Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho in an press confirmed that World Cup winner Paul Pogba will captain the Red Devils away at Brighton on Sunday.
Man Utd have rubbished reports of a Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba rift
Pogba captained Manchester United in the Premier League opener against Leicester last week and scored from the spot as Jose Mourinho’s side began the season with a 2-1 win. However, both Pogba and Mourinho have hit the headlines this week for different reasons following reports of a bust-up between the pair on the training ground.
It was said the United boss sought out Pogba over his comments at the weekend when he said there are certain things he “cannot say otherwise I will get fined”.
But the United legend Paul Scholes chose to focus on Pogba’s performance levels and challenged him to help make the Red Devils title contenders.
“I don’t know – there’s obviously some sort of breakdown in their relationship from what we read.. do we know that for definite? I don’t know,” Scholes said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“What we do know is that Paul needs to perform more often than he is doing.
“We all know the talent that he’s got. Great ability, great strength, an athlete, but he’s only doing it once every three of four games and if you’re going to challenge for a title I just don’t think that’s enough.”
He added: “Course he showed desire [against Leicester], he should be showing that every week anyway. Captain’s armband? I thought the minute we signed him he should have been made captain,” said the flame-haired Pirlo.
“Give him some responsibility, a young player. I don’t think there was a standout person to be captain in that team, I just that that was ideal for him hopefully he can keep that.
“He started okay Friday, I don’t think it was anything special.
Jose confirms @PaulPogba will captain #MUFC on Sunday and says “I couldn’t be happier with him than I am now.” pic.twitter.com/1qIGsoKzMB
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 17, 2018
“If he can thrive on the responsibility then ya, keep him with the armband.”
United return to action on Sunday when they travel to face Brighton (4pm) with Mourinho facing a selection headache with the six players who missed the game against Leicester once again.
Manchester United have described reports that Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba had a big bust-up as “absolute nonsense”, insisting their relationship is good.
Several newspapers reported on Thursday that Mourinho had warned the France World Cup winner not to speak out to the media and he should ask for a transfer if he wanted to quit the club.
It is understood United rejected an offer for Pogba from Barcelona earlier in August and despite getting the captain’s armband for their Premier League’s opening win against Leicester, his comments after the game hinted at tensions at Old Trafford.
“If you’re not happy, you cannot give your best,” Pogba said having taken the unusual step of stopping on three occasions to speak to reporters at Old Trafford. “There are things that I cannot say otherwise I will get fined.”