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Graeme Souness Blames Paul Pogba For Manchester United's Ills Once Again

Graeme Souness Blames Paul Pogba For Manchester United's Ills Once Again

The Sky Sports pundit also thinks that Marcus Rashford isn't good enough to carry the team now he's the main striker.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Graeme Souness has wasted no time in picking up where he left off last season by once again taking aim at Paul Pogba, claiming he'd want the midfielder out of Manchester United if he was a teammate.

The Sky Sports pundit has a history of criticising United midfielder Pogba and before the club's opening game of the season, against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, the former Liverpool man has had another shot.

Writing for the Times, Souness claimed Pogba, and the now departed Romelu Lukaku, were to blame for United's current issues, saying, "If I'm sitting in Manchester United's dressing room today, I'm glad Romelu Lukaku has gone and don't want Paul Pogba in there with me either if he's not up for the fight ahead and is also keen to get away.

"They're as responsible as anybody for the predicament United are in, yet have effectively said to their teammates: 'It's everybody else's fault.' No, let's get it right, lads, you're part of the reason United are not in the Champions League this year.

"Real Madrid are looking to nick Pogba on the cheap because they're suspicious of his form for United, while Inter haggled over the asking price for Lukaku because he didn't pull up any trees at Old Trafford either. Instead of them taking the responsibility as senior players, that burden instead falls on Marcus Rashford at 21."

Earlier in the summer Pogba's agent had claimed the Frenchman wanted to leave Old Trafford and he was linked with Real Madrid and a return to Juventus but the team now wouldn't be able to replace him with the transfer window closed.

Pogba, left, stayed at the club but Lukaku, right, has left for Serie A. Image: PA Images
Pogba, left, stayed at the club but Lukaku, right, has left for Serie A. Image: PA Images

Lukaku moved to Inter on Thursday after a long transfer saga, which included Juventus nearly swapping Paulo Dybala for the Belgian, and it left the English side with no time to sign a replacement.

That has left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad looking a bit thin of options upfront and Rashford having to lead the line.

Souness doesn't think the England international is good enough to do so, adding, "I'm not convinced he's ready for it yet. Time is still on his side, of course, but I'm looking for more consistency and 20-plus goals a season from him rather than the 10 he scored in 33 League games last season.

"That tells me someone of his age should not have that responsibility at a club the size of United - to be the main man, get the goals and make the difference. It's not ideal and it would not have happened under Fergie. Rashford would still have been a bit-part player at his age because of the quality in front of him in the squad, but in the past year he's had to become a main man.

"I'd prefer to see him play wide for a while yet before he becomes United's centre-forward. It's easier to see the game from there and make your movements. Through the middle upfront is the hardest place to play."

Will Pogba be able to prove Souness wrong?

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Topics: Paul Pogba, Football News, Manchester United, Premier League, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Graeme Souness, Inter