Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson believes Jose Mourinho needs to soften his approach if he wants to get the best out of World Cup winner Paul Pogba.
The 25-year-old starred for Les Bleus in Russia as he helped his country secure their second World Cup title in their history.
Pogba has attracted plenty of critics across the Premier League since completing a then world record transfer to Manchester United in 2016.
But Lawrenson feels Pogba's impact in Russia was owed to Didier Deschamps' more positive treatment of the player in contrast to his club manager.
"I remember when I went to Liverpool and they had Kevin Keegan a few years earlier before Kenny Dalglish took over," Lawrenson told OTB.
"I remember one of the boot-room staff told me that if you want Kevin to track back - tell him to stay up front on his own. And if we wanted him to stay up front on his own - he'll track back.
"They were almost saying he would work things out for himself. He's a free spirit, Pogba. He's still a relatively young man. He has so much talent and when you look at him you would think he's actually a basketball player, he's that big.
"Once he opens his legs - his stride is so long. You can have lots of players in your team who you can whack every single day. And some of them respond to the stick all the time.
"Others want the carrot dangled in front of them. I think that's exactly what Pogba is. Do I think Mourinho is that type of manager? Not particularly.
"But he must be thinking now; maybe I need a rethink. If Pogba goes back to Manchester United and he's average for the first three months, it's going to be Mourinho's fault isn't it?"
James Hopper
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