MANCHESTER – As a devout Muslim player, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has spoken movingly about being a Muslim living in Manchester after the Arena attack, talking about his disbelief at the tragedy and ruling out any connection between these attacks and Islam.

“It’s a very difficult moment but you cannot give up,” Pogba told Esquire magazine in the interview to be published in July-August edition, Manchester Evening News reported on Friday, June 30.

“We can’t let them get in our heads, we have to fight for it. Sad things happen in life but you cannot stop living.

Twenty-two people were killed in an explosion following a concert by an American singer Ariana Grande last month.

Pogba condemned the Arena attack and opened up on his disbelief at the tragedy, which occurred two days before United’s Europa League final with Ajax.

“You cannot kill a human being. To kill a human being… it’s something crazy, so I don’t want to put religion on it. This is not Islam and everybody knows that. I won’t be the only one saying that,” he said.

Pogba also paid tribute to his father, who passed away in May.

“When you lose someone you love, you don’t think the same way,” Pogba added. “And that’s why I say I enjoy life, because it goes very fast.

“I remember when I was talking to my dad and now he’s not here. My dad was a very strong man, very stubborn as well, he fought, but at his age it’s not easy. He was a very good man, a very good dad and I’m proud to be his son.

“He was one of the funniest guys ever, so funny. Every time you had time with him you were laughing. Very clever as well, because he was a professor. You have to remember the happy things.”

Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Manchester United and the France national team.

He operates primarily as a central midfielder and is comfortable at playing both in attack and defense.

Born in 1993, the gifted player joined the French national squad in 2013 to play later in 2014 World Cup and will play in European Championship 2016.