Rio Ferdinand: Mkhitaryan not playing because of Pogba

Manchester United (England) and English national football squad former defender Rio Ferdinand expressed his view on why the Red Devils’ midfielder and Armenian national squad captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not getting any playing time in recent times at this English club.

“I think earlier in the season Mkhitaryan was providing assists,” TEAMtalk quoted Ferdinand as saying. “But importantly when Paul Pogba was out, [United manager] José Mourinho wanted someone to be a creator, and to go out and take games by the scruff of the neck; but he didn’t produce in that sense.

“Pogba’s such a huge player in terms of creativity. Romelu Lukaku needed someone to create for him, Pogba was doing it, but Mkhitaryan wasn’t.

“José doesn’t mess about, he makes a decision and he sticks by it. He’s calculated in what he does.”
Mkhitaryan has been left out of Manchester United’s past two matches.