Manchester United's world-record signing Paul Pogba keen to forget his transfer fee and focus on displays

Paul Pogba spoke to the media for the first time since his £89million return to Manchester United nine months ago, however, he talked like a man who has found the expectation difficult to handle at times. The 24-year-old Frenchman's performances have been solid yet hardly spectacular for a player who still seems to be searching for his ideal role.

Pogba has not always helped himself, it has to be said. The bling that was on display again here, the flamboyant hairstyles, the choreographed dance routines and that personalized emoji have not gathered much sympathy among his critics who point to a record of seven goals and five assists in 43 games.

The statistics would be a little kinder had Pogba not hit the woodwork no fewer than nine times. But sat in the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Anderlecht, the former Juventus midfielder was finally able to mount his own defence. 'People talk about the mountain of the transfer,' he said. 'The transfer is something else and on the pitch is something else.