Mou threatens major changes

MANCHESTER. - Jose Mourinho is threatening to axe Paul Pogba and some of his other Manchester United stars for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

Mourinho said Manchester United players who performed poorly in their English Premier League defeat by West Brom will be dropped for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham.

“So it is not rotating, because rotating looks like a player that plays against Bournemouth is in order to give a rest to somebody who is going to play against Spurs in the semi-final.

“It is an opportunity for some people to play and to try to get a place in the team for Spurs. Some of the guys that played against West Brom don’t have a place in that team (for the Bournemouth game).

“What is the criteria for a manager to choose a team? I only know one criteria - it is the way they play. That is the only way I can select players. Or do you want me to go for the price they cost, or their salary, or their beautiful face or . . . The only way is to go with performance.”

Pogba, who has been in and out of the team this year, was substituted after 56 minutes on Sunday just a week after he had been the two-goal hero in the second-half comeback in the Manchester derby.

Asked if he was disappointed with the £89m midfielder’s performance, Mourinho added: “It was not just him. And he had a yellow card so he was in a more difficult position than others.’’