Jose Mourinho has taken the unusual step to declare that Paul Pogba was never Manchester United’s vice-captain.
It comes after the confrontation between the pair in training on Wednesday and after the United boss told Pogba in front of his United teammates on Tuesday that he wouldn’t captain the side again.
Pogba, having returned from the World Cup riding on the crest of a wave, had been handed the captain’s arm band in Antonio Valencia’s absence during the early weeks of the season, in what appeared to be a show of faith from his manager.
There were also suggestions that added responsibility had been passed his way, in the wake of a summer where he was linked with a switch away.
Pogba wore the armband three times, against Leicester , Brighton and Young Boys in the Champions League, and has previously been labelled as ‘second captain’ by Mourinho.
But at a time when their relationship is once more at breaking point, Mourinho elected to make the statement on Friday that Pogba is not his vice-captain and that United in fact don’t have one at all.
“Paul was not the vice-captain,” stated Mourinho. “We had Valencia as the captain and then we had the group of players that could be the vice-captain.
“One day I give to David de Gea, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling. I thought about Paul already last season because a player of a different generation, younger player and the captain of the future because Valencia, Young they come more or less same age, same generation.
“Paul was not the vice-captain. We don’t have the vice-captain. It depends on the match, depends on if Valencia is playing. If Valencia is playing he’s the captain. If Valencia is not playing I will try to go in another direction.”
Mourinho’s men are hoping to get back on track at the London Stadium and the Portuguese has only one desire: “To win”.