CAPTAIN SENSIBLE
Pogba may be at odds with Jose but getting armband will force him to put United first
THERE may be a secret war at Old Trafford between Jose Mourinho and his French stars, but Paul Pogba will still “get his head down and play”.
That is the opinion of former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, who believes the offer of the captaincy will broker an uneasy truce between manager and superstar – and Pogba himself appeared to confirm that yesterday.
Mourinho made the World Cup winner his skipper on Friday night, only for the rift between the pair to be ripped open once more afterwards, when the midfielder claimed he feared he would be fined if he said what he thought about the boss.
Yet Brown believes now the season has started, the lure of the armband will help Pogba settle down and produce the sort of form that made him one of the stars of Russia 2018.
“I’d like to know what he thinks he can’t say, but he is still a Manchester United player,” said Brown.
“I don’t really know too much about what’s been said or talked about but he is a Man United player and I am sure he is happy there. He scored a goal on Friday – the season has started so now he will just get his head down and play.
“He is brilliant, he has to try to do his best for the team like any other player.”
Brown (below) had previously suggested the France international should be given the armband on a permanent basis, to help put the rift between Mourinho and the player behind them.
There may still seem to be tension between the manager and his star man, along with Anthony Martial, but Pogba spoke in emotional terms about the captaincy and what it means to him, after being awarded the honour against Leicester.
He said: “When I was here before, Rio Ferdinand was captain. Patrice Evra was captain. Michael Carrick was also captain.
“I went to Juventus and Giorgio Chiellini was the captain, and Gianluigi Buffon was the captain.
“I have learnt from all of them. I don’t think there is a book called ‘How to be a Leader’. You are either a leader on the pitch and off the pitch or you are not.” And he offered United fans hope he may stay at Old Trafford long after Mourinho’s tenure, when he added: “I have always loved the club.
“I have played for the academy, I have played for the first team and it was a dream come true. And now it is even more of a dream come true, wearing this armband, because of the past: the players who have played here and those who have been wearing this.”