MOURINHO COMES CLEAN
Manager says new United midfielder will replace Carrick, not under-fire Pogba
MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed his intention to sign another central midfielder in the next transfer window but as a replacement for Michael Carrick not Paul Pogba.
Mourinho spent the majority of his Friday’s press conference ahead of late yesterday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie with Huddersfield Town angrily responding to questions over Pogba’s future at the club amid speculation of a rift between him and the player.
French publication L’Equipe claimed Pogba, who rejoined United from Juventus in August 2016, had been unhappy in a more defensive role in the team and said his future lay away from Old Trafford.
Pogba has struggled for form in recent weeks and Mourinho substituted the 24-year-old in two of United’s last three matches.
Mourinho, however, hit back at what believes are “lies” regarding the France international before he later talked about his desire to strengthen midfield with Carrick, 36, set to retire at the end of the season and take up a role on United’s coaching staff.
“We need to sign a midfield player,” said Mourinho. “Because we are going to lose Michael Carrick. Of course, we need balance in the team. Some of you (the media) keep saying that we are going to buy that striker, that winger, that left winger, that right winger.”
The Portuguese boss added: “You can accuse me of many things, but you cannot say that I lied to you. When I don’t want to say things, I don’t say (them). But I don’t take you in other directions. We are looking and we are going to try to sign a midfield player.”
United sources say Pogba’s ‘nose has been put out of joint’ by the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal last month.
The former Juventus star is also understood to be unhappy playing alongside Nemanja Matic in a 4-2-3-1 formation, preferring a more liberated role on the lefthand side of a
4-3-3 similar to the one he had in
Italy.
Reports originating from France have suggested that Pogba is having some regrets about rejoining United and may reconsider his future at the end of the season.
Graeme Souness, Roy Keane and Paul Ince are among the pundits to weigh into the debate, but Mourinho was quick to hit back.
He said: “The position is quite ridiculous. I don’t want to be nasty but here we have the biggest pundit industry. There are hundreds of them with great background and knowledge in football. Some of the guys are paid millions.”
“They are paid to read the game and explain the game. Don’t say bull***t. You don’t need to come with, ‘We want to sell him’. You don’t need that.
“Some of them I know for many years and I know their surname is Liar and that’s not nice.”
United watched Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri in the Europa League this week, ahead of the summer recruitment drive.
United, second in the English Premier League but a huge 16 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, face a crunch period of matches. These include a twolegged Champions League tie against Sevilla and league games with Chelsea and Liverpool.
Mourinho, however, insisted United will not treat the FA Cup — which he won while at Chelsea in 2007 — lightly.
“The Champions League is more difficult than the Europa League, we all know that.
“And the FA Cup in this moment, I believe all the top teams, I think only Liverpool and Arsenal are out. A nice draw for Chelsea, for Man City, for Tottenham.
“Top teams are going to be in the quarter-final. Let’s make sure we are there too, but even the FA Cup will be tough,” he added.