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'Pogba situation highlights Solskjaer is not fit to be United manager' | John Giles

The ever unresolved Paul Pogba question is proof that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not fit for the Man...



'Pogba situation highlights So...
Soccer

'Pogba situation highlights Solskjaer is not fit to be United manager' | John Giles

The ever unresolved Paul Pogba question is proof that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not fit for the Manchester United job, according to John Giles. 

Manchester United's record signing has been out of the team with injury for the majority of the season and Solskjaer's latest update on the French midfielder raised eyebrows when he purported that Pogba's "people" said he required surgery.

While many Manchester United fans were irked that the decision to go to surgery appeared to be Pogba's external "people" rather than the advice of the club's doctors, Solskjaer later clarified that the club had agreed with the assessment.

Speaking on Friday's Off The Ball, Leeds and Ireland legend Giles argued that the constant question over Pogba's future indicates that Solskjaer is unable to make the big decisions needed to be Manchester United manager.

"I don't think he's able for the job," Giles proclaimed, "like the Pogba situation is still going on. Is he going to play now [when he recovers]?

"What he's saying is he needs an operation on his ankle and Solskjaer is sort of saying, 'Yeah, I think he is right.' This has been dragging on for months and months and Pogba is central to what is happening at Manchester United. Could you imagine Ferguson putting up with what Pogba is playing at?"

On the issue of Pogba following the advice of his own doctor rather than the club's, Giles noted that it should be remembered the issue comes in light of comments from Pogba's agent that sharply criticised United.

"This is coming on the back of Raiola saying last week that he wouldn't take any player into Manchester United. In fact, he was very influential in [Erling] Haaland, a player United were interested in, going to Borussia Dortmund.

"He said he wouldn't let Madonna or anybody else go to Manchester United at the moment. So he's a huge influence and he's Pogba's agent, and he's listening to him.

"Ok, so say I believe Solskjaer about the medical situation now but what about everything else? When he plays, when he doesn't play, when he doesn't play at all, when he's out on the pitch. This is a big problem for Manchester United and it hasn't been addressed, all we hear from Solskjaer is he's a good lad and he's doing this and doing that.

"Well, I don't see that. I think Pogba is the main problem at Manchester United and I think if Ferguson or any top manager was there they'd have him out by now. He's been troublesome. He does it now and again on the pitch - only now and again - but he's not worth the trouble."

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John Giles Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Paul Pogba