Jose Mourinho would rather Chris Smalling captain Manchester United instead of World Cup champion Paul Pogba. United are yet to officially appoint a replacement captain for Michael Carrick, who retired last season. The midfielder hardly featured in the first team however, meaning Antonio Valencia filled in as vice captain. Mourinho has suggested the right-back – the club’s new longest-serving player – will reprise the role. The Portuguese also namedropped five other players – but not a player who has just led France to World Cup glory in Russia. Poor Paul.
“The captain was Valencia last season, I think he’s going to be the captain,” Mourinho said. “And when he doesn’t play we have to make decisions. Depends on who is on the pitch, if Smalling is, if Ashley Young is, if Herrera is or Mata is, if they are on the pitch they have an option. Matic has all the attributes to be Manchester United captain but he arrived only one year ago. But 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.”
Manchester United fans have demanded that Paul Pogba is made club captain next season after footage emerged of the midfielder delivering a rousing speech during France’s World Cup campaign. Michael Carrick’s departure at the end of last season means United are without a skipper and Jose Mourinho is yet to confirm who will take on the armband. Pogba has been handed the captaincy on a a handful of occasions but Metro.co.uk understands the Frenchman was not in the running for the armband at the end of last season. However, that may change once Mourinho sees the incredible team talk that Pogba gave to his team-mates before their World Cup last16 clash against Argentina.
There’s been speculation that Pogba could leave Old Trafford but United fans are desperate to see him giving the captaincy after seeing what he’s capable of in the dressing room. Paul Pogba showed to Jose Mourinho in a dressing room speech why he could be the perfect captain for him for next season. The United boss is looking for a replacement for Michael Carrick, who has retired to join the coaching staff, and Pogba is one of a number of players who fans have called to be given the armband.
Romelu Lukaku showed his leadership qualities while playing for Belgium in the World Cup but previously unseen dressing room footage has shown why Pogba could be the perfect candidate.The 25-year-old showed maturity beyond his years as he delivered a speech in the dressing room ahead of France’s World Cup quarter final win against Uruguay.The United midfielder can be seen addressing his team mates and issued a rallying cry as his team headed to the semi final of the competition. Pogba helped lead France to their stunning World Cup triumph in Russia, even though he wasn’t captain.
Antonio Valencia fulfilled the role for much of last season, with Carrick out of the picture, but the real leader – and the man around whom Mourinho must build his United team this season – is Pogba. Ever since he returned to United in 2016, Pogba has been touted as a future captain and footage of him delivering rousing and inspirational addresses to his France team-mates during their triumphant World Cup campaign – even though Hugo Lloris wore the armband – only served to endorse that view.
With the requisite three weeks off following his World Cup exertions, Pogba will not be ready to start the new season for United, with Valencia – who was not involved in Russia – likely to take on the role for the Premier League opener at home to Leicester on August 10.
But after two frustrating seasons back at United, when his brilliance and influence has flickered sporadically and certainly not consistently enough, handing Pogba the captain’s armband could prove a masterstroke from Mourinho, one that finally brings out the best in the capricious midfielder.