Paul Pogba lists Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes as his Manchester United midfielder idols
PAUL POGBA has revealed Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick are his Manchester United midfield heroes – despite keeping the latter out of the current side.
The France ace endured a frustrating first spell at Old Trafford, starring for the youth teams and reserves but never getting a real first-team shot under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Scholes and Carrick were idols to the teenager back then and Pogba was bowled over to play in Scholes’ star-studded testimonial.
And it has been Carrick – an unused sub in two Prem games and a Champions League clash so far – who Pogba gets most guidance from, despite being one of the newer faces to snatch his place.
Pogba told the Manchester United programme: “I've learned from Paul Scholes and Michael.
“Scholesy may not be here anymore but when I was younger I was looking at him a lot as a midfielder.
“To come on for him in his testimonial as a young player was a dream come true.
“I'm still learning from Michael. He is an example for me and I always look at him in training.
“I listen to his advice - every time, before a game, he comes to talk to me and he will ask me things and keep me calm.
“To be honest, he is a mentor to me and someone I look up to.”
Carrick was made Manchester United captain at the start of the season but is yet to play a single second of first-team action.
In fairness, Pogba, Marouane and, particularly, Nemanja Matic have been excellent in the engine room.
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And Mourinho has revealed why his right-hand man cannot get a game despite his title as leader of the playing staff.
Mourinho said: “[Sergio] Romero played the Europa League final which was the game of the season for us and he's not playing.
“Ander Herrera was the player of the season and he is not starting matches.
"That's life in big clubs.
“We gave [Carrick] a contract because we think he is a good player, we think he is an important player.
“He is just in a team where, in this moment, Matic and Fellaini are in the best form that I've ever seen them.
"I never saw Matic playing so well, I've never saw Fellaini play so well.
“He's in a team with these two guys playing absolutely phenomenal so for Carrick and for Ander, it's just patience.
"Their time will arrive and they're going to be important players for sure. That's the team, that's the squad.”
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