Pogba: World Cup triumph affected my focus

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba admitted that winning the World Cup with France has had a negative impact on his focus this season.

The international break has seemingly come at a perfect time for the 25-year-old after United's slow start coincided with suggestions that his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho has deteriorated.

Pogba, who has two goals and two assists in eight Premier League appearances, believes that the inability to motivate himself on the pitch for United is down to the hangover of winning football's most coveted prize in July.

"It's hard to concentrate, to start again, to hit hard, because we touched the stars," he said, according to Ian Holyman of ESPN FC. "For us, it was the best trophy you can win as a footballer.

"But we like challenges too, we have goals. For example, I've never won the Premier League, that's an objective. I'd like to do that."

Months after attracting praise for becoming one of France's leaders in Russia, Pogba was stripped of the vice-captaincy duties at United by Mourinho before a misunderstanding over an Instagram post led to a dramatic training ground altercation with the Portuguese manager last month.

Yet, Pogba feels that the responsibilities of a leader are not necessarily bestowed on one by a manager.

"I've never played for the France team to be captain, already being here is a big thing for me," Pogba said. "You don't have to be captain to speak.

"For me, a leader isn't someone who wears something on his arm, who puts on the captain's armband. It's the squad that put me in that position, who gave me the freedom to express myself, and gave me the confidence to."