Pogba Is Learning How To Live Without His Dad – Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has praised Paul Pogba for his response to his father’s death as he prepares to recall him for Manchester United’s final Premier League game of the campaign.

Mourinho has promised to make sweeping changes for Sunday’s fixture against Crystal Palace, ahead of United’s Europa League final date with Dutch side Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday.

But the United manager has confirmed the world’s most expensive footballer will be in the starting line-up despite the death of his father this week.

“Paul Pogba is fine,” Mourinho said. “A strong guy, strong mentality. He’s learning how to live after his father passed away, but he is strong.

“He knows that he needs to play on Sunday because he hasn’t played or trained for a long time and he needs these minutes on the pitch, so he plays against Palace.”

Pogba has not appeared for United since helping them reach the Europa League final in a home draw with Celta Vigo 10 days ago and Mourinho clearly feels the French midfielder needs to play after attending to his family tragedy.

Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who injured his hamstring in the midweek draw at Southampton, is not expected to play as he battles to be fit.

And defender Chris Smalling will also be rested against Palace to ensure he recovers from a minor muscular problem in time to face Ajax.

Mourinho has also called up promising young defender Tim Fosu-Mensah, who has not played since injuring his shoulder in the Manchester derby at the end of last month.

“Chris Smalling has a problem, but a small problem that I think is no problem at all for next week,” said Mourinho.

“It’s a problem for the weekend but not for the final. Marouane Fellaini is the question mark; we wait for today’s scans, we decided not to do it yesterday. Again, his feelings aren’t bad, but let’s wait.

“Tim Fosu-Mensah plays on Sunday and, if the reaction is good, and if he manages to play the game without problems, he’s a new option for us for the final.”