Jose Mourinho has denied rumours of a rift between him and club record signing Paul Pogba, confirming the French midfielder will play against Huddersfield Town tomorrow.
Since moving from Turin to Manchester in the summer of 2016, Pogba has been in and out of form for his latest club, but his slump in form has led to suggestions that Mourinho is unhappy with the midfielder.
In recent away day defeats against Spurs and Newcastle United, Pogba has come under criticism for his lethargic performances, but Mourinho insists he will continue to play as United seek to reach a fourth consecutive FA Cup quarter-final.
“I think you are nice with your words because when you say a lot of speculation you should say a lot of lies because I accept and can speak on Paul’s behalf without any kind of problem,” Mourinho said.
“Paul accepts he has not been playing well but that’s all and if you want to speak about it that’s one thing and speculation your words makes a little bit of sense but the majority of things you can read and listen, don’t be polite, be objective and say lies.
“I don’t have to speak with you about my conversations with my players, is my problem, the player’s problem, a big lie that our relation is not good, that we don’t communicate, that we don’t agree with his positions and his involvement in the dynamic of the team so be objective and say what we all know.
“In the last couple of matches he didn’t play well period, end of story, now it’s my problem and Paul’s to improve his performance level, you don’t need to be a liar.”
In his assessment of the Pogba situation, Mourinho indicated that the 24-year-old France international was still returning to fitness but will play against Huddersfield tomorrow.
“He had a red card against Arsenal, probably in his best match and the team’s best moment.”
“He was out for a long, long time and in this moment he is not playing well, and the team needs him at a good level.
“When he is not a good level, the team is not as good. It happens with every team when the most crucial players are not performing.
“You don’t need to come with we want to sell him, you don’t need that.
“Some people go in that direction, some of them I know for many, many years and their surname is ‘Liar,’ and that’s not nice – he plays tomorrow.”
Pogba missed United’s league defeat at the hands of Huddersfield in October and in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford just two weeks ago, the £89 million man only appeared off the bench after being dropped from the starting XI.
