Previously on… Mourinho vs Pogba
It’s been another difficult week for Manchester United, with star player Paul Pogba and José Mourinho appearing to fall out rather publicly over a video uploaded to Pogba’s Instagram story.
The pair clashed during a training session, with Sky cameras present to pick up the whole affair. The dispute stemmed from confusion over the timing of the video’s publication, as wifi connection issues meant the video of Pogba laughing with his teammates during United’s defeat to Derby was uploaded after the match.
The pair have reportedly made up after the incident, and Mourinho has denied reports of a fractious relationship between them.
“I think Paul told that in one of his appearances in the ‘famous mixed zone’ and it is exactly that – he is correct. It’s a good relation, between player and manager,” Mourinho said on his relationship with Pogba.
Asked what was said in the training ground exchange, Mourinho said:
“No. I cannot tell you. The training session was open, you had some cameras with some potential to get some of the words.
“Maybe you have to change the potential if you want to know everything that is said because I’m not going to comment. It was a conversation.”
Mourinho went on to explain that his decision to take away the vice-captaincy from Pogba was not the result of any comments Pogba had made, but more a consequence of his performances on the occasions that he wore the armband.
“I explain very detailed to the people that has to know in detail, which is the squad and especially Paul, so Paul and the other players in the squad know in detail the reason why myself and my coaching staff, we decide to do that,” said Mourinho.
“I always analyse a player as a player when a player is captain, I analyse the player by the player and captain perspective, and after weeks of analysing and changing opinions with my coaching staff, we made the decision Paul is just a player and not a captain.”
“Decision made, I informed the player and the players and when I was asked after the match on Tuesday, I confirmed and now I confirm and now it’s the end of the story.
“I can anticipate more questions by saying the relation of player and manager is good, is not anymore a relation, captain or whether the captain’s manager, the relation is good.”
The Portuguese coach also praised the way his star midfielder had trained this week, claiming “nobody trained better than Paul Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.”
“Nobody trained better than him, some trained as well, and tomorrow he plays, so end of the story.”
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