Europa League News

#Pogbattle: Pogba reacts to facing big brother in the Europa League

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has revealed how his star midfielder reacted to the news that he'd be playing against his elder brother in the UEL.

By admin

Paul Pogba laughed after hearing that he would play against elder brother Florentin Pogba and Saint-Etienne, Jose Mourinho has revealed.

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Manchester United vs. St-Etienne quickly stood out as the most eye-catching fixture of the UEFA Europa League last-32 draw as soon as it was announced on Monday.

Under normal circumstances, it would be another so-so clash that the Red Devils would be expected to breeze through.

But the fixture has had more gloss added to it by the fact that Paul Pogba, who became the world’s most expensive player last summer, will be squaring off against elder brother Florentin, who plays as a center-back for the Ligue 1 team.

POGBA x POGBA ?????#thankgod #lapogbance #6 #19 #assexmanutd #uel

A photo posted by Florentin Pogba (@florentinpogbaofficial) on


When asked about it, United boss Mourinho revealed that his midfielder had reacted quite humorously to the news.

“That’s a nice thing,” he told reporters. “Paul was already laughing about it and for sure his brother is also laughing.

Mourinho-Pogba

“It has happened a few times in the history of football and it’s a nice thing.”

Dominique Rocheteau, currently the sporting director at the Ligue 1 club, echoed Mourinho’s thoughts, describing the brothers’ reunion as ‘beautiful’.

“Florentin and Paul, it’s a beautiful story,” said Rocheteau.

“We’re going to play one of the biggest clubs in the world. That’s also why you play in European competition. We would have liked to have played them later in the competition.”

The other Man United player whose eyes will have lit up after looking at UEL draw electronic panel on Monday is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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The Swedish striker has scored 14 times in just 13 games against St-Etienne during his four-year stint in France with PSG.

The only Ligue 1 red card Ibrahimovic has ever received also came against the same club.

UEFA Europa League last-32 draw

The two-legged encounter will be played in February next year for a place in the last-16 of Europe’s second-tier club competition.