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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Ralf Rangnick responds to Paul Pogba comments about Manchester United role

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has given Paul Pogba short shrift after he complained about his failure to have a defined role at club level.

While on international duty with France, Pogba said 'at United, do I really have a role? I ask the question and I don't have the answer'. The 29-year-old was dropped in United's last game - the Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid - and missed three months of the season with a thigh injury.

Pogba is out of contract at United on June 30 and widely expected to leave the club after six largely unsuccessful years in which the only trophies United have won were in Pogba's first season back in 2016-17.

Read more: United make decision on Chong's future

Rangnick has utilised Pogba's flexibility since he returned on February 4 due to a shortage of attacking players, with the flaky Edinson Cavani out once again for two weeks.

"I've got enough to do now to prepare the team for the next game," Rangnick said of Pogba's future. "Tomorrow's game is another important one and I don't think it makes sense to interpret or just judge what he has maybe said in an interview, it doesn't make sense, that's something you can do if you want. For me, it's only important to judge him.

"I heard he said he had played in different positions in the last couple of weeks. Yes, of course, since the game against West Ham on January 22, we have lost three strikers since then - Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and even with Edinson Cavani - who is injured again, unfortunately, and will be out for the next couple of weeks.

"And, on top of that, if Paul was still injured himself, then players like Bruno against Tottenham or Scott McTominay are missing, then, of course, somebody else has to play in a different tole. And if this is somebody like Paul, who is flexible and can play 6, 8, and even 10, then this is a normal thing."

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