Pogba recalled after two games on bench

play well and to have a good impact in the game and a good impact in the team – a team with many players that don’t have many miles on their legs,” he said.

“A team with some players that are not playing a lot, so I hope that people like Paul have a good impact on the team.”

Mourinho bristled when quizzed on why he has not been able to get the best out of Pogba.

“I don’t think your question goes in the direction of what I want to answer or listen to,” Mourinho said. “I don’t like your question.

“You can put the question from another direction, I don’t like the direction.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho said he did not know his agent Jorge Mendes was going to release a statement about the United manager’s future. Friday’s statement from Mendes said the under-pressure Mourinho was “fully committed to the club”.

But Mourinho said: “It’s Jorge’s statement – it’s not my statement. I didn’t know at all and I didn’t care about it.”