Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Paul Pogba is Manchester United’s first-choice penalty after the Frenchman scored against Leicester.
Manchester United took an early lead against the Foxes in the Premier League season opener thanks to a spot-kick which Pogba drilled home, but the midfielder could be seen arguing with Alexis Sanchez about who would take it.
The two players were seen having a discussion behind their hands about who should take the kick, but Pogba refused to yield and placed the ball on the spot. Luke Shaw would later double the home team’s lead with his first ever senior goal before Jamie Vardy scored late on to settle the scoreline from Old Trafford at 2-1.
Much was made of the incident between Pogba and Sanchez after the game with some commentators suggesting that the players were undermining each other.
Mourinho, who is rumoured to have strained relations with the United No.6 through comments made about his World Cup performance, was quick to establish the fact that Pogba is the number one spot-kick taker for the Red Devils but also explained they have a number of players that are designated to take one.
He said: “The thinking was that he is a very good penalty taker and he likes the responsibility of it and he’s the first choice.
“Of course on the pitch, we have a second and third choice, in case of no confidence or for some reason does not want to take, but he was ready.”
Pogba helped France to their second-ever World Cup win this summer in Russia. Mourinho also believes preparations for the possibility of penalty shoot-outs in knockout tournaments gave the midfielder an edge over Sanchez.
He added: “And of course he trained lots of penalties during the World Cup – because it’s something that, in a competition like that, every player trains a lot – and he was very confident. [Kasper] Schmeichel is very good on penalties but no chance.”
United travel to Brighton next weekend looking to make it two wins from two to open their Premier League campaign.
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