Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously managed Paul Pogba in the Manchester United youth team
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously managed Paul Pogba in the Manchester United youth team

Manchester United boss Solskjaer praises Paul Pogba


Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is enjoying watching Paul Pogba play with a smile on his face after the midfielder scored a brace in the 3-1 win over Huddersfield.

United made it two wins from as many matches since sacking Jose Mourinho and bringing in Solskjaer last week.

Pogba was restored to the starting line-up under the Norwegian and has shone in both the 5-1 win at Cardiff and the Boxing Day success against Huddersfield.

Solskjaer - who previously worked with Pogba when he managed United's reserves said: "That's the Paul I know, the Paul I have known since he was in the reserves and in the youth team.

"He's always been a happy boy, he's always had a big smile on his face and when you score a goal, or if you score two, of course you're happy. And when you play football for Manchester United you should be happy.

"Of course it's a responsibility but it's an honour and a privilege.

"Paul loves playing for this club. He's a Manchester United boy through and through. He's a kid that knows what it means to play for United."

Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring for Manchester United against Huddersfield
Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring for Manchester United against Huddersfield

"Paul is one that's really enjoyed the last week. Last time (against Cardiff) he creates two or three goals, this time he scores two himself. I think he's enjoyed this."

After Nemanja Matic put United 1-0 up in the 28th minute, Pogba struck twice in the second half before Mathias Jorgensen's late consolation for the visitors.

Solskjaer said: "You don't in one week change anything, but you change the mindset.

"I want my team to play in a certain way and you give them little pointers here and there, and it's a work in progress.

"It's going to take time for the players to go from one manager and the details he wanted. I've got a little bit of a tweak.

"We'll improve as time goes on and I was just thinking, and I said to the staff as well towards the end, when you go 2-0 up, maybe 3-0 up, and you think 'next week we'll have (Alexis) Sanchez, (Anthony) Martial back, you've got (Romelu) Lukaku to put on'. Because I think maybe we could have really finished them off then."

Martial and Lukaku missed the game due to illness and a private matter respectively.

Solskjaer said Sanchez, who has been sidelined by a hamstring problem, was "touch and go" for the home clash with Bournemouth on Sunday and would be "probably definitely involved" in the match at Newcastle three days later.

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