Solskjaer explains why Pogba did not captain Man Utd against Rochdale

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he is more likely to hand the captain’s armband to young players with leadership qualities than the likes of Paul Pogba and Sergio Romero.

Centre-back Axel Tuanzebe captained Manchester United against Rochdale in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night as the Red Devils needed penalties to beat their League One opponents.

Is Tuanzebe a future United captain? Five things to know…

• Ashley Young is currently Man Utd’s captain.
• But Tuanzebe wore the armband against Rochdale on Wednesday.
• The centre-back is touted as a future United star having been at the club since 2005.
• Solskjaer said he preferred to show faith in a youngster on Wednesday rather than a senior player.
• Pogba was famously stripped of the armband under Jose Mourinho.

Pogba, who has skippered the team in the past and was infamously stripped of the armband during Jose Mourinho’s reign at Old Trafford, started in midfield but was not made captain on this occasion.

Speaking after the game, Solskjaer explained his decision to have Tuenzebe lead the team out rather than a more senior player.

“Axel is a captain in the making, he’s a leader – why not give to young kids?” Solskjaer told talkSPORT.

“We know we can give it to Sergio [Romero] and we can give it to Paul, that’s no problem and they’ve been captains before.

“But it was Axel today and how does he handle it? He was absolutely fine, he enjoyed it. It’s just a way of telling him that we trust him.”

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Tuenzebe was born in DR Congo but grew up in Rochdale from the age of four. He was snapped up by United’s academy in 2005.

Pogba was guilty of missing a huge opportunity to put United ahead against Rochdale, heading over from close range – a chance he really should have taken.

The Frenchman is yet to score in five appearances across all competitions this season following a turbulent summer, during which he was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

United will aim to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham when they face Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday night.