Zlatan Ibrahimovic has backed Manchester United team-mate Paul Pogba to prove his doubters wrong following his poor display in Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City.

Having previously come through the club’s academy, the Frenchman returned to Old Trafford in August for a world-record fee after spending the last four years at Juventus.

However, despite decent displays against Southampton and Hull, Pogba’s showing in the 2-1 defeat to City, who are the 1.91 favourites to win the Premier League this season, has been widely criticised.

The 23-year-old’s lack of discipline in midfield has attracted plenty of ire from pundits and fans alike, with his inability to hold his position seen as the main reason for the freedom the Citizens’ playmakers enjoyed on Saturday.

With such a high price tag it was always going to be difficult for the midfielder to live up to his hype and Ibrahimovic has now called for patience as he settles back in at United, who are 5.50 to win the Premier League.

The famously outspoken Swede has praised his team-mate’s work ethic and has backed Pogba to prove his doubters wrong.

“All the jealous people who talk about him will swallow all of the words they have said about him,” Ibrahimovic told SFR Sport.

“He will only improve and will get everyone behind him. “Now, you have to be realistic, people are putting a lot of pressure on Paul.

His transfer created a huge amount of buzz. “I didn’t know Paul before and, now that I do, I can tell you he’s someone who works enormously.

He really wants to improve and he has a super attitude. But you mustn’t forget he’s young. That’s all I can say.”