Manchester United

Bryan Robson tells Paul Pogba to stop being 'laid-back'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 01 April 2018

Robson tells Pogba to stop being 'laid-back'

Paul Pogba needs to 'cut out the banter' if he is to hold down a regular starting spot at Manchester United, according to former Red Devils skipper Bryan Robson.

Ex-Manchester United captain Bryan Robson has urged Paul Pogba to become more serious both on and off the field if he is to reignite his career at Old Trafford.

The France international has found himself largely on the bench in recent weeks after struggling to justify his £89m price tag in the centre of the pitch.

Pogba insisted this weekend that he has "no problem" with manager Jose Mourinho, despite suggestions that a summer exit is being lined up.

United great Robson believes that the 25-year-old must cut out the "banter" if he is to hold down a place in the side, though, telling Off the Ball's Football Show: "He's on [social media] a lot and he's laughing and joking.

"He likes to be in that limelight, coming across that he's a laid-back character and he's jovial and he wants a bit of banter with the fans. For me, though, it's a little bit too much. You need to win.

"It's not a game, so that's where somebody like myself, Roy Keane and Graeme Souness, those sorts of people, a Gary Neville when he's commentating, we understood that. This isn't a game, this is our living and we need to win and I think Paul's got to get that a bit more into his character. This is a job."

Pogba returned to United's starting lineup for their 2-0 win over Swansea City on Saturday afternoon, playing the full 90 minutes.