Man Utd given Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes recommendation for Tottenham - EXCLUSIVE

Posted Wednesday, June 17, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Manchester United pair Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes are in contention to play in Friday's Premier League showdown with Tottenham.

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has admitted he would play Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes together in Friday’s Premier League clash with Tottenham. The Red Devils are currently gearing up for the return of football, having last taken to the field in March. And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has received support from his former team-mate.

Manchester United last took to the field in March, beating LASK 5-0 before the coronavirus crisis brought football to a crashing halt.

Now, they’re preparing for the return of the Premier League - with Tottenham lying in wait for Friday night.

United enter the game on a run of 11 matches without defeat. They last lost back in December where they were put to the sword by Burnley at Old Trafford on a chastening night.

And they’re primed to welcome back Pogba, who is fully fit again for the first time since the tail end of last year.

Many are excited about the prospect of the France international linking up with Fernandes, who has taken the top flight by storm since his January arrival.

And, amid reports Pogba will start the showdown in north London on the bench, Schmeichel has claimed he’d field the two superstars together in the same side.

"Well the thing about Manchester United is, we always say we want the best players in the world,” he exclusively told Express Sport.

"And if you have the best players in the world you play them, of course you play them.

Man Utd given Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes recommendation for Tottenham - EXCLUSIVE
Man Utd duo Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes may face Tottenham on Friday (Image: GETTY)

"I would play them straight away. Why not?”

When asked alongside who, he said: “I think Fred and McTominay they’re important players.

"I think Ole has to have a really long meeting about this with himself. I think it’s great, really great, we have options now.

"I would play them, play them together. There are many options, you can play them in No 10 together, give them the freedom for someone like Marcus [Rashford].

"What the team hasn’t had for a long time is competition for places.

"And it seems with his signing, Martial finding form, Marcus being fantastic, Daniel James having a little breather, the competition for the forward places is there.”

The game will be played behind closed doors - and Schmeichel has admitted that it will be an unusual experience for the players.

Man Utd given Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes recommendation for Tottenham - EXCLUSIVE
Man Utd hero Peter Schmeichel has hailed Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes (Image: GETTY)

"We’ve seen a few games over the last couple of days being played for the players to kind of get used to the atmosphere, or lack of atmosphere, how the stadiums are looking,” he said.

"But they, more than anything, are like pre-season games. Games played behind closed doors, for whatever reasons, they’re never for points.

"That’s what they have to do now. They have to play these important games for points.

"The first one, of course, is so important in terms of the last Champions League spot. So if we [Manchester United] win that we open up a really big gap on Tottenham.

"In many ways we might be closing the door on Champions League for them. On the other hand, they could close the gap on us to one point. We’re straight in with the most important games.

"It’s interesting, this stadium they’re playing in, is probably the best stadium - I’ve been there a couple of times. How is that going to play with no people in there?

"We don’t know that. But I hope that we can pick up exactly where we left off.”

Schmeichel has agreed to watch the game with fellow supporters as part of a competition with NOW TV.

And he’s admitted that he’s found watching football with his son Kasper an unusual experience during lockdown - but admitted it will be an entertaining experience nonetheless.

"This is great now,” he said. “I think it’s a great idea now to watch a game of football with someone who has played the game.

"I have to do pre game now, I have to do half time but it’s a way of engaging.

"One thing that will be interesting is on Zoom. How we’re all picking up on what’s happening on the pitch.

"And there’s a few times where I’ve been on the phone to my son and we’re watching the same game, he’s on Sky, and Sky is two seconds quicker than where I’m at.

"And my son will go ‘ahhh’ and I’ll say ‘don’t do that’. That’s going to be interesting.”