Manchester United team news: Pogba starts, De Gea and Matic rested

It had been made clear over the weekend that midfielder Paul Pogba would start the final Champions League group stage match for Manchester United against Valencia.

United have already progressed to the last sixteen and Pogba’s inclusion is likely to mean that the Frenchman is not in manager Jose Mourinho’s plans for the clash with Premier League leaders Liverpool over the weekend.

The match is set to be a test of Pogba’s maturity and leadership skills with a number of regulars expected to be rested and could still provide the man Mourinho labelled a ‘virus’ with a path back to favour.

Speaking ahead of the match Mourinho confirmed Pogba’s place in the starting XI: 

“I’m looking for him to play well and to have a good impact in the game and a good impact in the team – a team with many players that don’t have many miles on their legs.

“A team with some players that are not playing a lot, so I hope that people like Paul and a couple of others that are normally in the team and they have that number of miles that players need to be at that top level, I hope he can have a good impact on the team.”

Mourinho fumed when asked why he has been unable to get the best out of the World Cup Winner and record signing.

“I don’t think your question goes in the direction of what I want to answer or listen (to),” Mourinho said.

“I don’t like your question.”You can put the question from another direction, I don’t like the direction.”

Teenagers Mason Greenwood and James Garner have been included in a travelling party devoid of  Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling.

Sergio Romero is likely to deputize for David De Gea in goal while Andreas Pereira slots into the position usually occupied by Nemanja Matic.

Likely United XI (4-3-3): Sergio Romero, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Marcus Rojo; Fred, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba; Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard