PAUL POGBA is excelling for Manchester United right now because Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is correcting the mistakes of Jose Mourinho and allowing the midfielder free reign, telling him to do what he wants in matches.
That’s according to ex-United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who felt that neither the manager or Pogba were right for each other.
Pogba and Mourinho had a long-running feud that reignited after the World Cup, with the Portuguese manager critical of his player shortly after his World Cup success with France.
The pair repeatedly clashed via the media and had a tense training ground stand-off back in September, with it suggested one or the other would have to leave for the club to find a resolution for the saga.
But Mourinho paid the price for the Red Devils’ disappointing first-half of the campaign and was sacked in December.
Since then, club legend Solskjaer has taken over and overseen seven straight wins in all competitions with Pogba playing a key part, once again putting himself on the score-sheet in a 2-1 win over Brighton yesterday.
The 25-year-old has five goals and four games in just six Premier League appearances under the Norwegian, having managed three goals and three assists in his previous 14 outings under Mourinho before that.
And Ibrahimovic - who is currently playing for LA Galaxy in the MLS - thinks Pogba is much happier now Mourinho is gone, suggesting Solskjaer tells Pogba: ‘Do whatever you want to do’.
But he believes Mourinho simply did not believe in the £89million man’s talents, insisting neither side had confidence in each other.
Paul Pogba scored again as Man Utd beat Brighton (Image: GETTY)
Paul Pogba has five goals and four assists in his last six games (Image: GETTY)
Paul Pogba famously did not see eye-to-eye with Jose Mourinho (Image: GETTY)
“You come with a moment where things are not going together, it’s not going good for either part. One was not happy and the other one was not happy,” Ibrahimovic told ESPN FC.
“Paul didn't feel confidence from the coach, and the coach didn't feel confidence for Paul.
“It's difficult to perform as a player if you don't have confidence from the coach and you don't have that energy, that motivation, and Jose felt the same thing about Paul.
“Now we are seeing [a] more happy Paul, a more free Paul, more 'do whatever you want to do,' and he is succeeding with things now.
"It's like new energy, new blood came in, and now he is playing like he knows how to play. And we know who Pogba is, and this is the Pogba we are seeing.
Paul Pogba has been excellent for United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Image: GETTY)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Pogba seemingly have a strong relationship (Image: GETTY)
“Sometimes it happens. These things happen, and that is part of the game also; I mean, not everybody can go among each other and do well together.
"I feel like you come to a moment where it is too blocked and one goes or the other one goes. At this moment, the coach left, and Paul is more free now."
"When you play, happiness is very important, because when you feel stuck in a situation, you don't express yourself 100 percent and play 100 percent.
“There are these players that need to be free, they need to feel free to do what they are able to do under the disciple of the coach.
"Obviously, he has his tactics, he has that, but some players they go above these limits, and you need to let them be free, and I think Paul is one of them."
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