Merson: Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ignore the rest of United team

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 08/10/2016 at 14:37 GMT

Paul Merson has suggested that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba's behaviour is partly to blame for holding Manchester United back.

Jose Mourinho's men have struggled this season, and in their most recent Premier League game, against Stoke, they could only manage a frustrating 1-1 draw at home.

And Merson believes that Pogba and Ibrahimovic exclude the other players around them.

"Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba just seem to look for each other all the time and ignore everyone else."

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This, the former England forward thinks, could put United's chances of Champions League qualification in doubt.

"I’m not sure they are Champions League material," he added. "They should have blown Stoke away in the first 20 minutes last Sunday.

"But after that I’m not sure they looked like scoring. When Mourinho starts criticising his players in public he’s just showing his frustration."

Paul Merson managed Walsall.

Image credit: PA Sport

Such is the weakness in the team's form so far, Merson believes that their best option might be to concentrate on the Europa League.

"He knows they haven’t been good enough. Look what happened in the Europa League. The team he put out was just about the strongest he could.

"That told me he knows he might need the Europa League as a safety net. He’s never had to take it seriously before.

"But with a Champions League place for the winner and United not going well in the league they might need to take it seriously now."

Lastly, Merson had worrying words for Wayne Rooney. The England captain is growing increasingly frustrated with being on the sidelines, and Merson thinks he may fall yet further down the pecking order.

"Henrikh Mkhitaryan has hardly played. If he does, Rooney is not getting another kick."

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