Ander Herrera on Manchester United dressing room tension – And why Pogba flopped

Herrera recalls Ibrahimovic's ego and high standards in the dressing room, and reflects on why Pogba's £89m move ultimately underperformed despite exceptional talent.

Ander Herrera has shared insights from his time at Manchester United, discussing two of his most notable teammates. On Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in July 2016, Herrera recalled an incident where the striker criticized him and Juan Mata for not passing to him after missing three one-on-ones. "He found it difficult to admit it," Herrera explained, while praising Ibrahimovic as "a top, top, top world-class player" and "an absolute beast when it came to work and discipline," though noting his considerable ego. Ibrahimovic had an immediate impact, scoring 28 goals in 2016/17 as United won the EFL Cup, Europa League and Community Shield.

Herrera also reflected on Paul Pogba, who returned to Old Trafford in 2016 for £89m from Juventus. Despite playing alongside Pogba 84 times and acknowledging his exceptional abilities—"perhaps the player, apart from Messi, who's something unique, with the most qualities I've seen"—Herrera admitted he cannot fully explain why the midfielder's spell is widely regarded as a failure. He noted tensions between Pogba and Jose Mourinho, saying "there wasn't a connection between them," but stressed that "football doesn't end with one manager.