Pogba Urges Man United Youngsters To Seize Chance
Paul Pogba has urged Manchester United’s youngsters to take advantage of opportunities being afforded them and nail down a place in the first team.
Several of United’s academy graduates have had a run in the first team this season following injuries to key players.
Pogba has been missing for the best part of three months while the likes of Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly, Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial have all served time on the treatment table.
Mason Greenwood has come in to help fill the void in attack, and the 18-year-old has rewarded Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with six goals from 18 appearances in all competitions.
19-year-old Brandon Williams has also impressed at left back while James Garner’s Europa League appearances have hinted of good things to come.
Dating back to 1937, Sunday’s Premier League home encounter against Everton will be the 4000th successive game Manchester United name an academy product in their matchday squad.
Pogba, who is in his second spell as a United player, came through the club’s youth system and he has urged the youngsters to seize their chance and impress.
"I think and I hope I can help them," Pogba told MUTV. "I've said to a lot of the young players who have been with the first team: 'Guys, you don't know how lucky you are'.
"Unfortunately for us, we've had a lot of injured players and it's therefore a big chance for the young players to be involved with the first team.
"This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and maybe the biggest club in history and they have the chance to be in this club.
"So I say to them: 'Take your chance, play, you are young, you have quality, you have nothing to be afraid of'.
"I hope I can give them the good example when I'm on the pitch and outside the pitch and, even though I don't see myself as old, I hope that the young players will, one day, come and take my position [when I finish playing].
"That's how it is, I won't play forever. We all give our best on the pitch and I hope these young players will become legends here at the club, they have to enjoy it and really appreciate the chance they have here.
"Mason Greenwood is scoring goals, Brandie [Brandon Williams] has been playing games like he's been there for six months already. This is about what the club is about and what the manager wants."
