Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been left bemused by Paul Pogba’s comments after the Leicester City game, according to a report today.
Pogba’s Manchester United future has been dominating the headlines in recent months, with his relationship with his Portuguese coach said to have become strained.
Barcelona made a bid for the France international that was swiftly rejected by United during the summer transfer window, which only served to intensity speculation that the £89 million midfielder was unhappy at Old Trafford.
However, Mourinho has been full of praise for the 25-year-old in the press recently and even made the former Juventus man his captain for his sides Premier League opener, a 2-1 win over Leicester City last Friday.
But Pogba’s comments after the game against the Foxes seemed to suggest that all is still not well between United’s star player and his manager, with many even speculating that it was the midfielders way of showing that he has plenty of power at Old Trafford.
According to respected journalist Sam Wallace, Mourinho has been left shocked by Pogba’s remarks, insisting that privately the pair have no issues.
”Jose Mourinho is understood to have been bemused at Paul Pogba’s strong suggestion that all was not well between him and his manager on Friday night at Old Trafford, with the player having voiced no complaints personally after his return to the club that week.’’ Wallace wrote in the Telegraph.
”Mourinho is expected to address the issue when he next speaks this week ahead of the game against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, although it is understood that Pogba’s words came out the blue for the United manager. Mourinho recognises that he can be provocative at times in a bid to get a response but expects his players to raise any issues that they have with him to his face.
”The pair get on well together, Mourinho believes, and his remarks were constructive and fair. There have never been any clashes on the training ground. Having suggested Pogba has lacked focus during his time at United, Mourinho would have expected any comeback from the player before that first game against Leicester for which the player returned to the team ahead of schedule.
”Pogba had trained with the squad for the previous three days before the Leicester City game and was made captain on the night which Mourinho felt was enough of a signal of faith in the player despite the comments by both sides over the course of the summer.”
