There have certainly been more than enough articles chronicling the relationship between Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and his manager Jose Mourinho. Much of the coverage speculates on the nature of the duo’s relationship, claiming that it’s pretty fractured.
At times this season Mourinho has decried such stories as lies. We’ve also seen plenty of stories linking Pogba with an Old Trafford exit this summer, as the Frenchman’s agent, Mino Raiola claims that he offered his client to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in January.
Pogba, ahead of today’s massive Premier League fixture at home against Arsenal, says he’s very happy at Old Trafford, and that he gets along with Mourinho just fine.
“It’s good, very good,” Pogba said of his working relationship with Mourinho in an interview with Sky Sports
“He’s the coach, I’m the player. He does the coaching, I do the playing. I’m here and very happy. I give my best for the team, for myself I’m happy because we are in a final and I want to finish the season very well.”
Mourinho has publicly clamored for more consistency from Paul Pogba, who’s had an extreme roller coaster of a season. Arguably the best individual performer in the entire Premier League the week of big Manchester derby win, he was a total no show the following week in a loss to West Bromwich Albion.
Pogba’s ups and downs have seen him sometimes dropped from the starting XI, and the Premier League’s most expensive player ever says that has served as motivation for him.
Pogba said he’s not used to getting benched, and going through that experience has proved to be a teachable moment for him.
“It’s not something I’m used to, but everyone has to go through this,” he added. “It makes you stronger and makes you realise you have to work hard, because anything can happen. It’s affected me in a good way. When you go through it, you just have to work and keep believing in yourself and respond on the pitch.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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