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Paul Pogba

LONDON. — Jamie Carragher has blasted Paul Pogba’s performance in the Manchester derby, comparing the midfielder to a “kid in the schoolyard”.

World-record signing Pogba came under heavy fire from fans after failing to sparkle in Manchester United’s 2-1 weekend defeat against Manchester City.

Jose Mourinho’s men were dominated for the first 40 minutes, with Pogba failing to chase down Kevin De Bruyne as the Belgian opened the scoring for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Many felt Pogba failed to justify his place in the starting XI alongside Marouane Fellaini, and Carragher reckons the Frenchman produced one of the “most ill-disciplined performances” in recent times.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, the Liverpool icon said: “I don’t think it was so much Pep Guardiola getting it massively right, I think Jose Mourinho got it tactically wrong.

“What Mourinho wasn’t helped by was the performance of his players – he made two changes at half-time – but specifically the performance of Paul Pogba. I think for a central midfield player in a game of that magnitude, it was one of the most ill-disciplined performances you’ll see in the first 40 minutes.”— The Sun.

“The only way to describe it was like a kid in the schoolyard, the best player in the schoolyard, he runs where he wants, does what he wants.”

But Carragher would be wise to avoid Pogba’s teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who claims the midfielder’s “jealous” critics will soon be eating their words.

Ibrahimovic has leaped to the defence of Manchester United teammate Pogba after the world’s most expensive player received criticism for his Manchester derby performance.

The French midfielder failed to produce his best as Manchester City claimed the spoils in a 2-1 victory with Pep Guardiola’s side running riot in a one-sided first half.

But Ibrahimovic is adamant the critics will soon be silenced and that their views are fuelled by jealousy.

“All the jealous people who talk about him will swallow all of the words they have said about him,” Ibrahimovic told SFR Sport.

“He will only improve and will get everyone behind him.

“My relationship with Paul is easy: I speak, he listens. Paul is a player with a lot of talent.”

Despite a world record fee, Ibrahimovic believes an element of patience is needed with the 23-year-old.

“Now, you have to be realistic, people are putting a lot of pressure on Paul,” claimed the Swedish forward. “His transfer created a huge amount of buzz.

“I didn’t know Paul before and, now that I do, I can tell you he’s someone who works enormously. He really wants to improve and he has a super attitude. But you mustn’t forget he’s young. That’s all I can say.”

Jose Mourinho will hope his side can bounce back quickly after their Manchester derby blues with a trip to Feyenoord in the Europa League tomorrow next up. — The Sun.