Paul Pogba should not be made Man Utd captain over Chris Smalling, says club legend Bryan Robson
Red Devils' current skipper Antonio Valencia to leave this summer after the club decided against a one-year extension
Sponsored by
PAUL POGBA should not be made Manchester United's new captain this summer over Chris Smalling and Ander Herrera, according to club legend Bryan Robson.
The Red Devils current skipper Antonio Valencia is set to leave the club this summer after United decided against triggering a one-year extension.
Ex-boss Jose Mourinho controversially took the vice-captaincy off Pogba back in September - claiming the World Cup winner did not have the right character.
However, that view is shared by United legend Robson, who became the longest-serving captain in the club's history where he adorned the armband for 12 years.
He told : “In the current squad, because of the way they try to organise, they communicate with team-mates, I think we only have two who are quite good at that.
“So, we have Chris Smalling, who tries to organise, he shouts at people, he organises people. And then Ander Herrera. I’ve watched him in training, he’s an organiser. And that’s what you need from your captain.
“I mean, sometimes you can go with ‘Paul Pogba could be a captain’, but Paul would just be the best player.
“So, he’s the best player, so, you give him the captaincy because he’s the best player. But Paul plays more of an individual sort of side.
“He’s not really saying to people ‘you come here, you come here, push forward’, or just applaud your team-mate.
“When they give the ball away, you encourage them. You don’t always tell everybody off.
Latest Manchester United News
“Sometimes you have to encourage your team-mates, you can’t just be telling people off all the time… I think Herrera and Smalling are two captains.”
Current captain Antonio Valencia looks certain to leave the club as a free agent this summer after United missed the deadline to trigger a one-year extension.
In Valencia’s absence, Ashley Young, 33, currently wears the armband and has signed a contract extension for next season.
Both of Robson's choices for skipper are also set to remain at Old Trafford next season, with Herrera set to follow Smalling in penning a new deal at the club.