Don’t tell lies about Pogba
JOSE MOURINHO has turned his tough-love approach into undying affection towards Paul Pogba. The Manchester United manager dismissed stories of a bust-up with Pogba by insisting he “could not be happier” with the World Cup winner. Mourinho came out fighting yesterday after it was reported that he had rowed with the midfielder at United’s training ground. Mourinho said he was now happier with Pogba than at any other time since his move from Juventus two years ago and that they share a mutual respect. “The truth is we have been together for two years and a couple of weeks and I’ve never been so happy with him as I am now,” said Mourinho. “That’s the truth. I cannot demand more from him, I cannot ask more from him.
“He is working extremely well here. But I have to say in his defence: write what you want about him and me but please don’t tell lies, don’t put him in a situation that people can think he’s not a polite, educated guy.
“He has never had a fight with me. We never had a heated exchange of words, everything is respected, I have no problems at all.”
Mourinho was particularly impressed that Pogba answered his SOS to play in the Premier League game against Leicester in the opening match of the season last Friday after just three days’ training following his return from his post-World Cup break.
“He came here on the Monday, trained three days, I asked for his support, for his contribution in an important match for us when the team had difficulties. He did it better and for more time than we could have expected,” said Mourinho.
But after his impressive display, Pogba pointedly said he did it for the fans and the team – and did not mention his manager.
He also hinted at problems between the pair by saying there were things he could not say because he would be fined. But Mourinho insists he does not care how the words were interpreted – providing Pogba performs on the pitch.
And he revealed that the only player he has fined since taking over as United boss was Anthony Martial for missing eight days of training this summer after being given permission to fly home from the pre-season tour of the US to attended the birth of his second child.
“You have to ask Paul [what he meant],” he said. “I don’t care. I repeat: I want him to play well, I want him to play for the team, the fans. I’m
here for two years and a couple of months and the only player who was fined was Anthony Martial, so it is not easy to be fined here.
“So you have to ask him. I’m not going to ask him. I want him to work the way he is doing and play the way he is doing and that’s all that matters.
“When he says he did it for the fans and for the team, that is exactly what I demand from my players. I couldn’t be happier than what I am.”
Mourinho believes Pogba and United’s other late returners from the World Cup will be in far better condition for the trip to Brighton tomorrow. And he says he will not castigate Pogba if his level in performance dips.
“I’m very confident he will play well but if he doesn’t, that’s football,” he said.
“If his objective is to play for the team, for the fans, he has the right to have a bad match. Everybody has little ups and downs in form.”
Pogba will captain United again at the Amex but Mourinho says the armband will go back to Antonio Valencia when he returns to the team. Mourinho dropped Pogba from several games in the second half of last season as their relationship appeared to be under strain, then suggested his impressive displays as France won the World Cup were partly because he had no commercial or social media distractions. The apparent rift has come against the backdrop of Pogba’s agent offering him around to some of Europe’s top clubs.