MOURINHO VS POGBA: There can only be one winner

Photograph: Getty Images

By Areo Samuel

It is certainly no longer news that the relationship between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho has appeared to have taken another bad turn following the clip that surfaced in the social media space showing both individuals having a heated series of exchange during the team’s training in Carrington on Wednesday morning.



This is not the first time there has been a clash between the French International and his Portuguese manager.

This time around, the interview Pogba granted media men after the draw against Wolves at Old Trafford didn’t go down well with Jose Mourinho. These were the words of Pogba:

“We are here to attack. Teams are scared when they see Man United attacking and attacking. That was our mistake today. We are at old Trafford and we should attack and press like we did against Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal last season. When we play like this it’s easier, I can’t tell you because I’m a player; it’s not me. I am not the manager, I cannot, like, say that, but obviously we should show more options of playing.”

It was definitely a cryptic dig at Jose Mourinho even though a public criticism is something he [Jose Mourinho] doesn’t like as long as he is still in charge. Going by his antecedents, he will always reply to such and even mete out punishment to the defaulting player; he duly did that by stripping the French world cup winner of the vice-captaincy.

He [Jose] was quoted to have said that Pogba will never captain Manchester United again and when asked about it he said “No fallout at all, no problem at all, just a decision that I don’t have to explain”.

So, in the battle between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho, who will be winner?

One might say it is the manager - which is very logical and sensible. He is the technical head at the club and has been trusted by the club’s hierarchy with hundreds of millions of pounds in recent seasons to do something-anything- that will put the team back where they belong, among the big guns.

The extended version of the Mourinho and Pogba incident at Carrington today. Listen between 0.25-0.29... Jose can be heard saying “Paul, get out”. #mufc [@MUnitedFrance] pic.twitter.com/MtCR1FKvqt

— United Xtra (@utdxtra) September 26, 2018

Mourinho has already begun his third year in Manchester and most of the club’s supporters are worried and in a state of hysteria. The former Inter Milan gaffer has either jumped the ship or performed woefully according to his history.

He [Jose Mourinho] was clearly unhappy that he wasn’t backed in the summer to acquire big players especially a defender of immense quality and his tactics have been questioned on numerous occasions. Mourinho’s stock has nose-dived and Pogba’s the other direction.

Jose Mourinho's stock has nose-dived following his side's poor showings

Pogba may be the club’s best midfielder but an attitude of undermining the manager’s authority can’t be condoned. Though, His [Pogba] commercial appeal makes him a formidable presence at the club and can’t be tossed around like just any other player. Though, many see him as an overrated bloke but his quality on the field of play can’t be questioned [currently the club’s chief contributor in goals and assists this season].

Pogba's commercial appeal makes him a formidable presence at the club and can’t be tossed around like just any other player.

He’s their most expensive asset today and he is becoming much more of a relevant figure in football than his own manager, and keeps driving the turn-overs of the Glazers year in, year out.

Replacing Jose Mourinho is manageable, though - with high financial consequences, replacing Pogba may not be. Manchester United’s season isn’t going according to plan [if there was one] and a decision must be made or things may head for the doldrums for the former English Champions.



Areo Samuel is a contributor on Godwin Odiko's blog. Follow and interact with him on twitter by simply clicking on this handle: @Undisputed_Jsam