Jose Mourinho knew what he was doing in Paul Pogba spat, says Danny Murphy
Thursday 27 September 2018 06:01, UK
Jose Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing when having a very public spat with Paul Pogba in training, says Danny Murphy.
The Manchester United manager denied reports of a bust-up between the pair, but Wednesday morning's interaction - captured by Sky Sports' cameras - suggested otherwise, with the frosty exchange seemingly in reaction to Pogba's usage of Instagram during the game as United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
Sky Sports News filmed Pogba coming out for training - the morning after Mourinho insisted there was "no fallout, no problem" between himself and the World Cup winner - where the France international was confronted by Mourinho, something Murphy, speaking on The Debate, feels was staged by the Portuguese.
"Mourinho could have pulled him aside before training," Murphy said. "The more I think about it, the more I think Mourinho has done it on purpose. I don't think it is flippant - he is too clever.
"I spoke to people who work with Mourinho, and they eulogise about him and his attention to detail. He is always preparing things and knowing how he is going to deal with the press.
"All of a sudden he has become unaware of the press? People can lipread now. The more we talk about it I am convinced he has done that on purpose.
"I have had a couple of managers that I did not get on with, you just clash. Other players will speak really highly of them. Pogba and Mourinho might just not get on."
Craig Bellamy highlighted how if it came to a battle with only one winner, the player cannot come out on top.
"If it is a straightforward powerplay, there will only be one winner, and should only be one winner, and that is the manager," Bellamy said. "There is no player and, believe it or not, no manager bigger than the club. Nobody is bigger than Manchester United.
"It is something that has to be resolved between the two of them. United have not started great, but I see no reason why Mourinho cannot stay for the full year.
"It looks to me, from the outside that Pogba wants out. It is not working for him at Manchester United and not with this manager. All the little bits he wants out."
