Paul Pogba dropped by Manchester Utd for key Champions League clash with RB Leipzig

Joe Wright

Paul Pogba dropped by Manchester Utd for key Champions League clash with RB Leipzig image

Paul Pogba was dropped from the Manchester United starting line-up for Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.

The midfielder started the 3-1 Premier League win at West Ham on Saturday, scoring his side's first goal as they came from behind to take all three points at London Stadium.

However, Pogba was left out of the team for the trip to the Bundesliga side just a day after his agent, Mino Raiola, claimed he is unhappy at United and should be sold in the next transfer window.

The outspoken Raiola told Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport that Pogba could return to Juventus as he needs "a change of air".

The France international, whose season has been impacted by injury and struggles with coronavirus, has made 13 appearances in all competitions in 2020-21.

Pogba was one of five changes made by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from the win at West Ham, with David de Gea and Luke Shaw returning from injury to feature, the latter set to make his 150th appearance for the club.

Nemanja Matic, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were also recalled to the starting XI.

United need a draw to guarantee their place in the last 16, while Leipzig need a win to progress.

RB Leipzig: Gulacsi; Mukiele, Konate, Orban, Angelino; Sabitzer (c), Haidara, Kampl; Nkunku, Forsberg; Olmo.

Subs: Tschauner, Martinez, Y.Poulsen, Adams, Sorloth, Kluivert, Halstenberg, Martel, Wosz.

 

United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw, Telles; Matic, McTominay, Fernandes; Rashford, Greenwood.

Subs: Henderson, Grant, Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Tuanzebe, Williams, James, Lingard, Mata, Pogba, van de Beek, Ighalo.

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.