At the Carrington training complex today, there were obvious signs of League Cup hangovers following Manchester United exit from the competition at the hands of Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
An unconvincing start to the season that has already accumulated three defeats has heaped the pressure on United manager Jose Mourinho, who is also having to field questions regarding the club’s record-signing Paul Pogba.
Rumours have been abound of the detonating relationship between the pair for a while and, the Portuguese hasn’t helped himself by demoting Pogba from second captain this week.
"The only truth is that I made the decision for him not to be second captain any more but there is no fallout, no problem,"
Mourinho has said, as reported by the BBC.
"I am the manager I can make these decisions.”
"No fallout at all, no problem at all, just a decision that I don't have to explain."
However, footage has emerged this morning of an interaction between the two at the training ground that apparently shows the growing animosity sprouting between the coach and the France World Cup winner.
High-fives are flung around between the squad but there is a notable omission between the coach and the midfielder. Subsequently, whilst Mourinho plods around sullenly, Pogba seems bemused and befuddled by his manager’s attitude and visibly seems to question his manager, turning towards his teammates in shock.
In 2016, the arrival of Mourinho at the helm was instantly buoyed by the £89million return of prodigal son Pogba from Juventus, in what supposed to herald a resurgence of success at the club after dire years following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
With United now trailing league leaders and fierce - nay, hated - rivals Liverpool by eight points so early on in the new season, as well as one piece of silverware already slipping carelessly through their fingers, it seems a new nadir could way be imminent.
You can watch the footage below.
Manchester United next watch is against West Ham at the London Stadium in the early Saturday kick-off.
Frosty footage just in from @ManUtd's training session between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho… ❄️
What has been said between the pair this morning? 👀
