Paul Pogba: It’s not easy playing for Manchester United

David Lynch

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:47 CDT
• 2 min read

Paul Pogba admitted it is ‘not easy’ playing for Manchester United as he urged his teammates to quickly bounce back from League Cup heartbreak.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men saw one route to potential silverware this season blocked on Wednesday evening as they suffered a 2-0 semi-final defeat to local rivals Manchester City.

But Pogba, who has played a key part in a recent United renaissance that has put them in the midst of a title race, is keen not to dwell on that disappointment.

The Frenchman was one of a number of players who faced harsh criticism during a difficult start to the new campaign that led to rumours that he was eager to leave United.

But, after losing out in the League Cup, the midfielder explained that his focus firmly is on getting the results that will ensure other trophies are brought to Old Trafford this season.

“There is no time to be disappointed for a week because we know where we are,” he told MUTV.

“We are in a good position now. We don’t have time to be disappointed. We don’t have the time. We will get through this and we will go again.

“It is difficult and it is going to be difficult, and you learn from these games. It is going to hopefully help us to get through, to get better and to have a positive result in the next games.

“Football and playing for Man United is not easy, it will never be easy, but it makes the victory prettier and more beautiful when we get through a tough time, then we get through this.

“It is beautiful and you get the emotion. That is all we want. That is what the fan wants, that is what the team wants, everyone wants this. The club is built on winning and big things, so that is all we want to get – the big stuff.”

In-form City ultimately ran out deserved winners over their neighbours on Wednesday but Pogba believes he saw evidence that the recent gap between the sides has closed.

“We are improving. Last year they [City] were obviously more dominant and they dominated us,” he added.

“We are improving in the league and, even though we lost in the semi-final, we are still going far and that is what we want – but now it is about details. It is good to improve but we have to go to the next step now, all of us.”