Derby County manager Frank Lampard has warned Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba to do his talking on the pitch following a string of controversial comments so far this season.
Pogba's relationship with manager Jose Mourinho has already come under intense scrutiny in recent months, and the France international has caused even more headlines in post-match interviews, where he has claimed that he is unable to speak his mind at the club and most recently urged the team to play more attacking football.
Lampard enjoyed some of the most successful years of his playing career under Mourinho at Chelsea, and ahead of Derby's trip to face his old mentor at Old Trafford this evening, the former England international claimed that he used to be more careful about what he said.
"I'm not going to be the one who gives Paul Pogba any advice before we go to Old Trafford. It would be a great headline if he scores a hat-trick, so don't ask me," Lampard told reporters.
"I had a mantra where I didn't like to speak too much because I made a few mistakes with things I said in younger days. When you play, you do the best that you can, and when you speak, you have to be careful what you say.
"Everyone is different – some wear their heart on their sleeve, some might have reasons for saying things the way they do, but you should only be judged by what you do on the pitch. After a negative result, I was always particularly careful what I said."
Mourinho is understood to have told Pogba that he will no longer be considered for the United captaincy following his comments in the wake of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Barney Corkhill
