Paul Pogba has urged the Manchester United hierarchy to give Michael Carrick time as manager, backing his former teammate to be ‘fine’ despite a poor start to the season.
In an extremely underwhelming start to the campaign, the Red Devils have won just one of their first six Premier League matches and have been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
Their only league victory came over Ipswich Town, while they have dropped points to Hull City, Everton, Manchester City, Fulham and most recently Tottenham.
The 1-1 draw with Spurs saw United concede a late equaliser at Old Trafford, but it was not unlucky on their part after a poor performance and with a man advantage late in the game thanks to Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card.
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Carrick is under pressure in his first full season in charge of the club, but Pogba feels he deserves time to turn things around.
The Frenchman played alongside Carrick at Manchester United and was then coached by him and thinks he can improve things.
‘It’s just the start of the season, there’s nothing much to say, it’s just the start of the season and the season is very long,’ Pogba told Sky Sports.
‘He showed last season when he came, everybody said he was the manager that will change everything. Now that the results don’t come they say maybe he’s too young.
‘One day or the other it can change a lot, they just have to give them time and it will be fine.’
Pogba, 33, is a free agent after leaving Monaco in the summer after an injury hit spell with the French club.
He made just six appearances in his year with Monaco and his two-year contract was mutually terminated in August.
What is next for the World Cup winner is not clear, but he was speaking at the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday, where he was also asked about the ongoing Manchester City financial scandal.
In Pogba’s second stint at Manchester United the club finished second in the Premier League in 2018 under Jose Mourinho and 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Frenchman is hoping that his CV will be getting a boost when the punishment is dished out to City.
‘I just hope it’s not going to affect the Premier League and hopefully we can get two titles,’ he said.