Manchester United's Paul Pogba was the 'best player on the pitch' against Chelsea, claims boss Jose Mourinho

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Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has strangely suggested Paul Pogba was 'the best player on the pitch' against Chelsea.

The French midfielder clearly struggled on Monday night when compared to compatriot and goalscorer N'Golo Kante, turning in a reasonably anonymous display.

It led to further questions over Pogba's ginormous £89million summer transfer fee, with the 23-year-old struggling to impress since making his return to Old Trafford.

Paul Pogba (left) was 'the best player on the pitch' against Chelsea, Jose Mourinho has claimed

The French midfielder struggled to keep up with compatriot N'Golo Kante (left) in the match

But Mourinho claimed that Pogba was a 'giant' as United exited the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. 

'We have to be positive, the players were phenomenal but Pogba was by far the best player on the pitch,' Mourinho said.

'He was a giant on the pitch. After him, all my other boys were fantastic.

'The specialists will say a lot about him and it comes from envy.

But Mourinho believes the 23-year-old was a 'giant' and criticism of him 'comes from envy'

'They will never ever earn 10 per cent of what he does.'

Pogba has scored seven times in 40 appearances since joining United from Juventus for a world-record fee in the summer.

United and Pogba take on Rostov in their Europa League second-leg on Thursday evening. They drew the away tie 1-1.

Pogba was criticised for his anonymous display on social media after Monday's encounter