Jose Mourinho feels that a former Manchester United player under him lost a significant part of his identity after accomplishing an outstanding accomplishment during his playing career.
The ‘Special One’ took over the Old Trafford dugout in 2016 after Louis van Gaal was fired after Manchester United’s FA Cup victory.
Jose Mourinho had a fantastic first season in command of United, guiding the Premier League team to the League Cup and Europa League title.
The 61-year-old manager built on his initial season at Old Trafford by guiding United to second place in the Premier League and as runners-up in the FA Cup.
However, Mourinho’s tenure with the Premier League club came to an end in his third season, with the Portuguese coach fired in December 2018.
Despite his highs and lows at Old Trafford, the former United manager has talked warmly of his time there and his admiration for the supporters.
Mourinho, who is presently a free agent after being fired by Roma, has spoken out about his connection with one former United player at Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho’s tenure at Old Trafford witnessed the entrance of numerous notable acquisitions, notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.
Another key addition during the Mourinho era at Manchester United was World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba.
Before leaving Old Trafford in 2012, Paul Pogba had progressed through United’s development programme and played under legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 31-year-old Frenchman joined Juventus and earned a reputation for himself during his first stay in Serie A, before returning to United in 2016.
Pogba, who was purchased for a then-world-record sum of £89 million, was a controversial figure among United fans and even had a falling out with Mourinho.
Pogba left Manchester United for the second time in 2022 and returned to Juventus, with his second stay in Turin hampered by injury.
Pogba is banned to play professional football after receiving a four-year suspension for a doping offence, although denying any involvement.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mourinho feels Pogba’s turning moment at United occurred when he won the 2018 World Cup with France in Russia.
“The only thing I say is that it happens with almost everybody in some moments of your career: you lose a little bit the sense of who you are and what you have to be,” he went on to remark.
“The season after France won the World Cup, I believe Paul came back differently. The World Cup shifted his perspective such that football was no longer his first priority.
“Share the philosophy of everyone; everyone has the same amount of responsibility. I’m not enjoying Paul’s condition at all.”
Mourinho on Pogba’s connection at Manchester United
Pogba has promised to challenge his football suspension after a drugs test in 2023 revealed excessive amounts of testosterone in his blood.
The banned Juventus player’s sentence has been retroactively extended to the day he failed the drugs test, rendering him unable to play football until 2027.
Pogba won the League Cup and Europa League during his second stay at Old Trafford under Mourinho, and he was a vital player for the ‘Special One.’
Despite their strained relationship at United, Mourinho spoke frankly about his interactions with Pogba during his time there.
“When you are supported by the power, by the hierarchy, the message that passes through is very positive in the group,” he said.
“When you are not supported because the player or what they represent is more important, you are in a vulnerable situation.”
“Even if you are a coach with so much experience as was my case.”
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