Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been openly critical about his ex-coach Jose Mourinho’s management skills. The Portuguese said he is not bothered about Pogba’s recent remarks about him.
Pogba and manager Mourinho have had a love and hate relationship. During his spell with Manchester United, the Portuguese urged the Untied management to break the transfer record to sign Pogba from Juventus. The duo played a great role in winning the English League Cup followed by the Europa League in Mourinho’s first season at the helm.
However, things went south after a trophyless second season and a training spat involving Pogba and Mourinho became viral and was a testament to the frosty relationship that they have developed for each other. The spat took place after Mourinho decided to remove the midfielder from United’s vice-captaincy role.
Pogba had the last laugh as Mourinho was sacked a few months later and was replaced by current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Recently the former Juventus midfielder shared how different Solskjaer is to his predecessor which again created a stir.
“What I have now with Ole is different, he wouldn’t go against the players.He wouldn’t go against the players.
Maybe Ole wouldn’t pick them, but it’s not like he puts them on the side like they don’t exist anymore.
That’s the difference between Mourinho and Ole. Once I had a great relationship with Mourinho, everybody saw that, and the next day you don’t know what happened. That’s the strange thing I had with Mourinho and I cannot explain to you because even I don’t know. So, yeah,”
Pogba exclusively told Sky Sports.
Last night Tottenham Hotspur played out an exciting 2-2 draw against Everton as Harry Kane scored a brace to save the blushes. When asked about Pogba’s comments at the post-match press conference, Mourinho said:
“I would like to say that I couldn’t care less with what he says. I am not interested at all.”
Apart from some other players have also made such claims against Mourinho. Luke Shaw was another Manchester United player who did not make eye contact with his former boss as he froze him out of the first team claiming that Shaw lacks football intelligence. While the England International admitted that Mourinho wanted to improve his own gameplay by criticising him. He later also revealed that it was a ‘very tough’ period for him in his career.
Shaw currently looks like a different player under Solskjaer as he has been very consistent for the Red Devils. The Norwegian tactician has backed the fullback, and he has repaid him with stellar performances on the field. His performances have been so good that England manager Gareth Southgate has rewarded him with a national team call up after three years. Therefore Pogba believes that the current manager is one of the prime reasons why the team is doing well and the players are in harmony.
“Maybe [Solskjaer’s methods work] because he is a bit closer to the people. Every coach has their own way to coach and deal with players, and as a player, you have to adapt.
Sometimes it doesn’t suit you and sometimes it does. Ole has helped Luke a lot, it was a difficult season with Luke and Mourinho, and he has proved he has the quality he always had and the trust of the manager.”
Pogba explained.
United are in great form as they are looking well set to finish as the runners up in the Premier League only behind runaway leaders City. But a Europa League title will make the season even better, and it is an area where the players will look to work hard. United recently overcame the Granada challenge in the quarterfinals as they won 4-0 on aggregate and now they will face AS Roma in the semifinals. It is a big chance for the players to repay the faith that Solskjaer has had in them since his first day at the club as manager.
