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Paul Pogba has described Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a \u2018harsh leader\u2019 at Manchester United and admits some of his former teammates at Old Trafford struggled with the Swede\u2019s criticism.<\/p>\n
Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
Pogba returned to United in an \u00a389 million deal from Juventus in 2016 and arrived at Old Trafford in the same summer as Ibrahimovic, who joined on a free transfer.<\/p>\n
In their first season together at United, the pair helped the club win the Europa League and the EFL Cup under Jose Mourinho.<\/p>\n
Pogba insists he appreciated a direct approach from Ibrahimovic at United but also believes the softer nature of Patrice Evra helped his progression with France\u2019s national side.<\/p>\n
\u2018I think there are different kinds of leaders,\u2019 Pogba said in an interview with Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n
\u2018Zlatan is a leader who is harsh and is strong.<\/p>\n
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\u2018With me I\u2019m fine, like he could [say], \u2018you played very badly yesterday, what were you doing? Go train today\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018So he\u2019s a leader, he wants you to win, but he says it in a harsh way. Which I like it, some people like, some people don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u2018He can bring some people high up, but he can bring some people down. With Zlatan you need to be strong mentally. It\u2019s like a [Michael] Jordan style, I would say.<\/p>\n
\u2018Patrice Evra who was a leader with the national team and in Manchester who is totally different.<\/p>\n
\u2018He comes and talks to you in a nice way, sometimes he can go hard on you but not all the time.<\/p>\n
\u2018There are different kinds of leaders. There are some leaders who don\u2019t really speak, but on the pitch they will always show you. An example I will give you here in Italy, [Andrea] Pirlo.<\/p>\n
\u2018Pirlo was a leader. On the pitch, a big leader, he\u2019s not someone who speaks a lot in the changing room, but on the pitch he gave you this confidence, this trust, he was a different kind of leader.\u2019<\/p>\n