Ralf Rangnick confident United will see the best of Paul Pogba

Manchester United's France's midfielder Paul Pogba looks on during the UEFA Champions League group F football match between Atalanta and Manchester United at the Azzurri d'Italia stadium, in Bergamo, on November 2, 2021. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

Paul Pogba’s relationship with the Manchester United fans has become strained over the years, but Ralf Rangnick believes the midfielder should give his best when he returns from injury, regardless of the uncertainty surrounding his future.

The France international could see his contract with United expire this summer, so time is running out with the club likely to lose one their most prized assets for free, unless Pogba puts pen to paper on a new deal to remain at Old Trafford.

When asked about Pogba’s situation at the club, Rangnick told reporters (via BBC Sport): “Even if it’s for only showing up for a new contract elsewhere, I mean, he will be highly motivated to do that. Why should I then not play him?”

There will still be a lot of fans interested to see Pogba’s role in the team now that Rangnick has attempted to play a different way since replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The German wants his players to press more, be proactive and brave, but it is taking time for everything to click.

Rangnick — potentially like Pogba — has until the end of the season to help United turn their season around, as interim manager. He will then move upstairs into a consultancy role.

He added: “By the way, my contract as a manager is also expiring in the summer.

“So we have the same goal, we have the same ambition to be as successful as we can possibly be in the next three or four months.

“For me, it’s not a question if a player has an expiring contract. The question is how much does he still want to be part of this group? How much does he feel emotionally and physically on board?”

Moreover, throwing an extremely talented midfielder like Pogba into the mix could help things – but he hasn’t ever played consistently for United, and I know a number of Reds who have called for him to be sold long before now…

The former Juventus ace has not had the happiest of returns at Manchester United, but there is still time for a decent farewell.

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