Jose Mourinho said Paul Pogba should not have been given France's winner against Australia - but praised the midfielder's desire to help seal a winning start for his country. Pogba's best position for Manchester United was often debated during an inconsistent Premier League season for the 25-year-old, but speaking to Russia Today his club boss Mourinho applauded his role as a "box-to-box" midfielder in the goal, which sealed a 2-1 win for France. "For me, it's not about the goal. I think it's an own goal, but it's the action," he said. "It's the determination of making it happen. "The majority of French players were too comfortable or not wanting to risk too much, or not confident enough to make things happen. [Kylian] Mbappe didn't have a great game, nor Ousmane Dembele or Antoine Griezmann. "The midfield were very positional, Paul didn't interfere a lot in the game, but then - this action is the action of a No 8. Image: Mourinho signed Pogba for Manchester United in August 2016 "That's what people used to call the box-to-box midfielders. And in this case, that was the action of an attacking part of box-to-box. It's a pity it wasn't a clean shot to make it a brilliant goal, but it got them the three points." Mourinho had no issue with Didier Deschamps' team selection, but added it had failed to realise its potential as they stuttered to victory over a side who had been taken to extra-time by Syria in qualifying. "I liked the way France approached the game - I like three attacking players with freedom, Mbappe, Griezmann and Dembele, without a clear No 9 but it didn't work very well. "Australia were comfortable without the ball, but they had time to play and try to come to the final third in possession. The France midfield were not strong enough in terms of pressing. "I think the main idea of every team in the three days so far has been not to press. Every team has been defensively compact, defensively organised, but we haven't see a pressing team." * FIFA have subsequently decided that France's second goal was an own goal scored by Aziz Behich<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Paul Pogba stepped up as a 'box-to-box' midfielder after firing home France's winner against Australia, according to Jose Mourinho. The 25-year-old's position has been a source of countless column inches ever since he re-joined United for a then world-record transfer fee in the summer of 2016. Coach Michael Carrick has encouraged Pogba to 'kill' and break into the box from midfield like he did in the Manchester derby, when he capped a man of the match display with two goals. Pogba has repeatedly insisted he is at his most comfortable when playing in the left-sided central midfield role in his favoured 4-3-3 formation but he has also been used in a two-man midfield by Mourinho, who has been repeatedly asked about his role. In February, Mourinho gave one of his longest ever press conference responses as United boss when answering a question about Pogba's position after former team-mate Wayne Rooney claimed he is 'a classic box-to-box midfielder'. The Portuguese gave a 499-word answer and declared Pogba was a 'midfield player' But, four months later, Mourinho could not help but notice that his talisman changed the game for France by stepping up as a box-to-box midfielder. "The midfield were very positional, Paul didn’t interfere a lot in the game," he told Russia Today. "But then - this action is the action of a No 8. "That’s what people used to call the box-to-box midfielders. And in this case, that was the action of an attacking part of box-to-box. It’s a pity it wasn’t a clean shot to make it a brilliant goal, but it got them the three points." Get all the latest Manchester United news first with our new app. Download it here now.<doc-sep>Get the latest United updates, transfer news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox every day for free Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Paul Pogba has gone quiet on social media in an effort to prove himself to Jose Mourinho, according to Didier Drogba. It has not been the easiest few months for Pogba following an animated exchanged with Mourinho on the touchline at Wembley during United's 2-0 defeat at Spurs in January. After that incident, the Frenchman only started three of the next six games - having once been an undisputed starter under Mourinho. Pogba soon won back his place, though, and made some key contributions at the business end of the season, including a man of the match display in the Manchester derby. That performance came on the back of Pep Guardiola's sensational claim that Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, had offered him the chance to sign the 25-year-old in January. It has been noticeable how Pogba's been more low-key on social media in recent months and Drogba, who won three titles under Mourinho at Chelsea, believes he is trying to prove himself to his former manager. "Pogba? I think he does deliver," he told the BBC. "The fact that he’s had difficult moments in the last few months at United he’s been quiet on social media. "He’s been focusing on getting in the starting line-up. He wants to prove to people that he can be the man." Pogba scored France's winner in their 2-1 win against Australia on Saturday as he looks to take the World Cup by storm. 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Paul Pogba has been stripped of the winner scored in France's 2-1 victory over Australia, with the effort going down as an own goal. The Manchester United midfielder looked to have found the back of the net in Les Bleus' World Cup opening match on Saturday, after a collision in the box with Aziz Behich resulting in the ball clipping the bar and crossing the line. But after close consideration, the effort has now officially gone down as an own goal scored by Behich, meaning Pogba has yet to get off the mark in this summer's World Cup. One man who believes the right call has been made is his club manager Jose Mourinho. (Image: REX/Shutterstock) "For me, it's not about the goal," said the Manchester United boss after the France game. "I think it's an own goal, but it's the action. "It's the determination of making it happen. "The majority of French players were too comfortable or not wanting to risk too much, or not confident enough to make things happen. (Image: FIFA) "[Kylian] Mbappe didn't have a great game, nor Ousmane Dembele or Antoine Griezmann. "The midfield were very positional, Paul didn't interfere a lot in the game, but then - this action is the action of a No 8. (Image: RT.com) "That's what people used to call the box-to-box midfielders. "And in this case, that was the action of an attacking part of box-to-box. It's a pity it wasn't a clean shot to make it a brilliant goal, but it got them the three points."