Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho’s relationship with his star midfielder Paul Pogba seems to have more twists and turns then a Agatha Christie novel.
Over the last few months there have been reports that the pair are barely on speaking terms and that Mourinho is furious with his clubs record signing for the glaring inconsistencies in his game, as well as suggestions that the pairs relationship is heading in the same direction as that of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham.
However, speaking in the build up to todays crunch FA Cup semi-final against Spurs at Wembley, United’s Portuguese coach has laid out exactly what he expects from the France international.
“I told him after Manchester City that I’m not expecting him to be the man of the match every match,” Mourinho said.
“I’m not expecting him to be phenomenal every match because that is really, really difficult.
“But (I do expect him) to keep a certain level. That’s the challenge. That’s obvious.
“He was phenomenal against Manchester City. I think he was not good against West Bromwich Albion and I think he was again phenomenal against Bournemouth.
“Against Manchester City you have the two goals that people can say ‘wow, super decisive’ – I think he played even better against Bournemouth.
“Since minute one he was even more consistent, more in control, more in control of the game. I think he was really, really good.”
United fans will be hoping that Pogba has one of his better days today, and the 25-year-old avoids the type of performance he put in the last time the Reds travelled to Wembley to face Spurs, which resulted in a embarrassing 2-0 defeat in which Pogba was hooked early in the second half after an hugely ill disciplined display.
