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Manchester United are getting ready for their second match of the season. Brighton and Hove Albion await, after the Devils opened the campaign with a 2-1 win over Leicester. Prior to this match, Jose Mourinho talked on Friday in his usual press conference. What we heard from the boss could be interpreted in much more positive manner than some of his previous press conferences.
Reason for that lies in Jose Mourinho talking about the ‘situation’ with Paul Pogba. Several media outlets reported that the relations between the manager and the star player are not so good, but the Portuguese now had the chance to put all of those rumours to bed.
Mourinho Denied Rumours Regarding Pogba
“The truth is we are together for two years and a couple of weeks and I’ve never been so happy with him as I am now, that’s the truth. I cannot demand more from him, I cannot ask more from him”, Mourinho stated at the beginning.
“When he says he did it for the fans and for the team is exactly what I want, is exactly what I demand from my players, he’s working well, playing well, that’s what I want. I couldn’t be happier than what I am.
“He’s working extremely well here but I have to say in his defence, write what you want about him, me, please don’t say lies, don’t put him in a situation that people can think he’s not a polite, educated guy, he is. He never had a fight with me”, the manager was adamant.
What this meant is that Mourinho reacted in a positive manner regarding his main player. Whether anything did or did not happen behind the scenes, the manager only had nice things to say about Pogba. The relationship between the two of them will be stronger after this, whatever it was until now.
Mourinho injected some positivism in his responses to the media and that should resonate well both with Pogba, but also the rest of the squad.
The Manager Loves Underdog Situations
“Young guy but good personality, made in academy, normally starting, has conditions to be captain in the future, and in the continuity of this he was the captain and he will be the captain again but when Antonio comes back he will be the captain”, Mourinho concluded about Pogba.
And this is the thing – Jose Mourinho loves underdog situations. He thrives when he creates “enemies” on the outside of the team, when he creates that feeling that injustices hit his players constantly. It makes it easier for him to create a combative side who will want to “prove the critics wrong”. Mourinho enjoys firing up his players convincing them everyone is against them. Whether that is the case is not important for him.
This is not to say Man United will be all fired up on a grand scale. But all of this reminded of Mourinho’s old days. He might use this “situation” with Paul Pogba to create something positive for the whole team.
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