'I couldn't let them win it'
Paul Pogba said it would have felt "like death" had Manchester City sealed the Premier League title with a home derby win after spearheading Manchester United to a comeback win.
Even for a player used to being in the spotlight, the scrutiny must have felt intense in the lead up to Saturday evening's encounter at the Etihad.
City manager Pep Guardiola claimed on the eve of the game that Pogba was offered to the Premier League leaders by his agent in January -- a claim denied by Mino Raiola. And before kick-off the midfielder was criticised by United great Gary Neville for his "ridiculous" blue hairstyle.
The Frenchman's first-half performance did little to quieten critics, but his display after the break did as he hit a quickfire double to set United on course for a memorable 3-2 comeback win that stopped City sealing the title.
"To be honest, I didn't want to lose against City," the midfielder told Sky Sports. "Playing at City, if they win they are champions against Manchester United. For all the fans it would be like death. To lose against Manchester City and to see them celebrate in their own stadium, I couldn't let this happen.
"At half-time in the dressing room we said, 'We have nothing to lose, let's go, please keep believing, let's make it'.”
Jose Mourinho made a tongue-in-cheek comment about his superstar as well, saying: "I wasn't asking Paul to improve because I was happy with what he was doing in the first half, then he scored two great goals. If his agent was offering him to some clubs, the price has now gone up a lot."
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