Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba says he missed playing in the Champions League last season for the club, saying he came to the club from Juventus in order to play in the competition.

The Reds spent last season playing in the Europa League, a competition that they won. Pogba played an integral part in Mourinho’s men winning – something which allowed them to qualify for the Champions League this season – winning the player of the tournament award as well as scoring one of the goals in the 2-0 final victory over Ajax.

United face Basel in their opening game of the Champions League tonight, a game which will be many players’ first Champions League game for many in the United team. Pogba especially will be excited to get things up and running in the competition, but admits it will not be as easy as people think to get out of the group stages.

Paul Pogba was speaking exclusively in an interview to United Review, published in Manchester United’s official matchday programme and posted on ManUtd.com.

“Obviously, I came to Manchester United to play in the Champions League,” he United Review.

“I knew, last season, when I signed and came back here, that I would be playing in the Europa League. So the objective was to win that to obviously go back into the Champions League. That’s what we did and I’m very happy. Now we’re just back in it and back to the best cup competition in the world.”

“We have a group now and people say it is an easy one for us in the Champions League. But the Champions League is never easy. You have got to play against teams who want to beat Manchester United. We’re just back in it, though, and want to prove to the world that we belong in that competition.”

“The difference is it’s still big in the Europa League and you still play very good teams, but maybe not the biggest clubs. Now, in the Champions League, we could play Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Barcelona – those teams who all won the trophy many times. I would say that is where we want to play.”

“To be honest, I missed it [the anthem]. I missed it a lot last season,” he added.

“Just to hear it again kind of pushed me on to give the best. Obviously, when you hear that music, you just have goosebumps coming. You are excited. Everybody is excited – the fans and the players! It’s the best thing you can play in.”