Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has lifted the lid on exactly what caused the row between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba. Boss Jose Mourinho took the step to strip Paul Pogba of the vice-captaincy, and the Portuguese coach has insisted hedoesn’t have to explain his decision.
Pogba seemed to criticise Mourinho’s playing style, and then a clip emerged which appeared to show a rather tense exchange between the pair ahead of training.
“We were winning the game 1-0 at the time of the video,” Pereira told Brazilian outlet UOL Sport.
“Then we lost the game, and people said that Pogba posted later. But he posted before.
“The manager thought that Pogba had posted later. He asked him why that had happened. There was a mood about it. These things were out here in England. But I have nothing to do with it.”
Pereira clarified that he has a good relationship with Mourinho: “The relationship is good, it’s cool,” he added. “I have a very good relationship with him, with the players and he also has a good relationship with the players.
“We don’t feel that pressure coming from outside. Everyone says that he’s being sacked. We do not feel that.
“I don’t usually have any English media on my phone so I don’t get intoxicated with everything they say.
“He’s our manager, we give our life on the pitch for him and for us too. Everyone is very calm, very focused and very happy.”
United’s manager and the French midfielder made headlines last month after cameras caught them engaged in what looked like a verbal disagreement at training.
Pogba greeted United’s coaches and players but then reacted following something Mourinho said, with reports suggesting the manager was asking about a post on social media published just after the EFL Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Derby County.
The incident happened just a day after Mourinho confirmed Pogba had been stripped of his vice-captaincy responsibilities at Old Trafford.Mourinho’s relationship with his players has been in the spotlight this season, but Pereira – who has made four appearances in all competitions – insists he has no problems with the Portuguese coach.