POGBA TO TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE
JOSE WILL RELY ON FRENCHMAN TO DRIVE TEAM
IF Paul Pogba ever needs a sideline, motivational speeches could yet earn the man who dabbed with President Emmanuel Macron another small fortune.
The United midfielder delivered the final dressing room team talk with gusto before each game in France’s glorious World Cup run – even calling on his team-mates to extend their stay at the team hotel to ‘eat that sautéed pasta again’ on one occasion.
Was it any wonder that so many members of the squad were keen to remind reporters that Pogba was the ‘true leader’ of the team despite Hugo Lloris being the skipper. Indeed, even Lloris said so himself.
Pogba became just the fourth United player to lift the World Cup while playing for the club and he was at the heart of Les Bleus’ second ever tournament victory.
As well as stepping up as a leader in this team, Pogba showed the maturity and tactical discipline we expect of top-class midfielders in their mid-20s who have already won 11 trophies.
Inevitably, it got United fans thinking – could Pogba perform a similar role at Old Trafford, and could he succeed Michael Carrick as captain?
Pogba wore the armband on six occasions last season, describing it as an ‘honour,’ and relished leading United out on their return to the Champions League in September.
Something changed, though, after an animated exchange on the touchline with Mourinho during United’s 2-0 defeat to Spurs at Wembley.
Mourinho was incensed after Pogba held a constructive discussion with him on the touchline after the United boss handed him some instructions.
The 55-year-old had not gotten this when passing on a message to Ashley Young or Ander Herrera.
Just a few days later, the Frenchman was dropped for the visit of Huddersfield. A message was sent. ‘I’m the boss.’ Pogba eventually won his place back but that once feasible idea of him becoming a permanent captain under Mourinho seemed a world away. Indeed, it was hardly a surprise that Mourinho omitted him from his six-man shortlist when asked who would be his next skipper. The United boss instead listed the club’s most experienced players Antonio Valencia, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata. But he also made a point that got a little lost. “I never care much about the captaincy, I care more about the life in the dressing room and the leaders. The armband means what it means,” he told reporters. In other words, he will still be relying on Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and David de Gea, who have all stepped up in that dressing room, to continue to lead by example. That will suit Pogba just fine.
Mourinho was incensed when Pogba held a constructive discussion with him