Jose Mourinho is not certain about the severity of the hamstring injury sustained by Paul Pogba during Manchester United’s straightforward, if not completely satisfactory, Champions League return.
Last night’s Old Trafford encounter with Basel put stop to their 644-day non-appearance from European football’s top table and it was a comfortable start for them.
Substitute Marouane Fellaini put United into a deserved first-half lead and fellow team mate Romelu Lukaku followed suit early in the second period with his first goal in the Champions League group stage.
Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score his first goal in the competition made it a 3-0 win against Basel on a night when Pogba’s hamstring complaint took the shine off the Group A victory.
An evening that started with him leading Manchester United out as captain for the first time was put to stop inside 19 minutes, with the 24-year-old seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches.
“It’s three important points in the first match at home,” Mourinho said.
“I don’t know honestly (what is wrong with Pogba) but by experience, just by looking and feeling it, I think it is a hamstring.
Big or Small I don’t know, but a hamstring for sure.”
Mourinho will be worry on the fitness of his star midfielder in a tough September that includes a trip to CSKA Moscow on top of domestic struggle.
The Russian side secured a shock 2-1 win at Benfica last night, while at Old Trafford some of United’s second-half play disappoint their manager.
“We played very well but after 2-0 everything changed,” Mourinho added. “We stopped to play, we stopped to play seriously, we stopped to make the right decisions.
“Bad choices, fantasy football, PlayStation football, tricks and at the time you cease to play as a team I like not, and you gamble a little.”
Manchester United’s win was one of a highest goalscorer around Europe, with Paris St Germain, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Barcelona securing comprehensive wins.
Inquired if smaller opponent were getting weaker or the big teams stronger, Mourinho said: “About the Real Madrids, and the Barcelona, and Munichs, I feel the Champions League commences in February.
“We are in the second level and the second level is, let’s make the points to qualify for the knockout phase.”