The Portuguese explained his reasons for relieving him of the vice-captaincy
Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United in the summer of 2016, on a five-year contract for a then-record for highest football transfer fee at £89.3 million. He left the club to join Juventus in 2012 for more game time, where he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.
There was heavy speculations throughout the summer that the midfielder’s relation with Jose Mourinho is not good and they weren’t even in speaking terms.
However, the France International has featured in all the Premier League fixtures so far this season and scored two goals. Red Devils have won only 3 games out of 6 and were knocked out by Derby County in the Carabao Cup.
Widespread reports in the media on Wednesday suggested that the manager had engaged in a row with the Frenchman regarding his negative comments about the team after disappointing draw with Wolves. He also lost his role as vice-captain as a result.
Mourinho explained about his relationship with Pogba and also discussed why he relieved him from vice-captain duties. Though he confirmed the player will start against West Ham United this weekend.
He told reporters: “No player is bigger than the club and if I’m happy with his work, he plays. If I’m not happy, he doesn’t play.
“Manchester United is bigger than anyone and I have to defend that.”
“I explain in a very detailed way to the people that have to know in detail, which is the squad and especially Paul, so Paul and the other players in the squad know in detail the reason why myself and my coaching staff, we decided to do that,” The Portuguese added.
“I always analyse a player as a player. When a player is captain, I analyse the player by the player and captain perspective, and after weeks of analysing and changing opinions with my coaching staff, we made the decision Paul is just a player and not a captain.
“Decision made. I informed the player and the players. When I was asked after the match on Tuesday, I confirmed my decision and now I’m confirming it again. It’s the end of the story.
“It’s not anymore a relationship of a captain, or one of the captains, and a manager. It’s just a player-manager relationship. Some players trained as well as him but not better than him, and he’ll play tomorrow, so end of story.”
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