Mourinho-Pogba situation: The manager reportedly lashed out Paul Pogba in the dressing room after full-time.
Manchester United are going through a rough patch at the moment. After the win against Juventus, it has all went downhill for the side. Barring an uninspiring 1-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League, Mourinho’s side had little to show for on the pitch.
United are currently 7th in the table after being held to a 2-2 draw by the relegation-threatened Southampton. The side was 2-0 down inside the first twenty minutes of the game, but Marcus Rashford inspired the side’s comeback with two quick assists.
However, the centre of significant attention was Paul Pogba’s dismal performance in the game. The midfielder lost the ball on 14 occasions and was criticised by fans and pundits alike.
Mourinho also stated in the post-match interview that ‘simplicity is genius,’ seemingly criticizing the midfielder for trying to do too much on the pitch. However, a recent report suggests that the manager lashed out at Pogba in the dressing room as well.
Mourinho on Pogba:
According to English outlet Daily Record, Mourinho thundered down at Pogba in the dressing room after the game.
The report claims that Mourinho, in front of the entire squad, called Pogba a ‘virus,’ further saying, “You don’t play. You don’t respect players and supporters.”
The manager also accused Pogba of hampering the mentality of the players around him. “And you kill the mentality of the good honest people around you,” Mourinho is claimed to have told Pogba after the game.
Paul Pogba has been performing poorly ever since making a comeback from injury against Crystal Palace last week. The midfielder failed to inspire the side in a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.
He came off the bench in a 1-0 win over Young Boys, but failed to step up again against Southampton yesterday.
“When players do not understand that simplicity rhymes with genius, especially in certain parts of the field, they continue to play football in a way too complicated [way], it is too difficult to have this continuity,” Mourinho said after the game yesterday.
What next?
Manchester United will face the high-flying Arsenal in the mid-week game on Wednesday, who play Tottenham later tonight.
