Paul Pogba may be Manchester United’s most critical player, arguably the soul of the team, but that doesn’t mean he’s above criticism.
The Frenchman might be the best player on the team and perhaps the most valuable, but even if he can be subbed off if he’s not performing well and/or not following directions properly.
United fell down 1-0 just 11 seconds into their road match at Tottenham Hotspur tonight, and by 29′ it was a 2-0 deficit. It was a disastrous showing all around for the Red Devils, and when you have catastrophic outings such as these, tempers flare. Mourinho really got into a very heated argument with Pogba on the touchline, and the cameras caught all of it.
Here’s the video footage that went crazy viral all across the world today:
Pogba doesn’t want to listen to Mourinho’s instructions?
Ok, off you come son. #mufc pic.twitter.com/a0hDLLCOEz— Man Utd Universe (@ManUtdUniverse) January 31, 2018
Mourinho was absolutely right to read the riot act to Pogba, who just didn’t have it tonight. The Portugese then subbed the 2016 re-acquisition off early, the first time this has happened to him since his £89.3 million move back to United. Later, Mourinho subbed off his replacement, Marouane Fellaini.
It was just that kind of night. There was blame all around, and Mourinho heavily criticized his side’s defending.
Although it is worth saying in defense of Paul Pogba, and this has obviously been said many times already, he’s much better suited to a 4-3-3, not a 4-2-3-1.
Asked in the postgame press conference if Pogba had sustained an injury, Mourinho responded: “No, no, It was just to change for Fellaini.”
“We had to try different qualities with different players.”
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 corporation blogging community Chicago Now.
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