If the question confronting Manchester United’s top brass is whether to keep belligerent manager Jose Mourinho or maverick midfielder Paul Pogba, they’d be best advised to answer: “neither.”
The internecine conflict at Old Trafford escalated on Wednesday when Sky Sports cameras captured a tetchy training-pitch exchange between the warring pair. Five million views – and counting – swiftly followed on the channel’s Twitter account, as what should be a private squabble continues to be played out in the public arena.
For the floundering 20-time top-flight champions, a winner cannot be allowed to emerge between the incendiary duo.
The one way to cure a startling descent into a circus is to cut both parties loose. Redemption awaits if a bold choice to press reset is made by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
It stretches plausibility to believe the Machiavellian and media-savvy Mourinho did not know he was being filmed at the time. If only he could confront his disintegrating team’s broader problems with such conviction.
As for the treacherous Pogba and his weekend’s “attack, attack, attack” remarks, such insubordination cannot be tolerated by any outfit with realistic aspirations of success. Particularly when the litany of public flirtations with suitors Barcelona are taken into account, plus only fleeting sightings of the brilliance expected since August 2016’s then world-record, £89m (Dh431.6m) return from Juventus.
A drama with more twists than iconic Manchester soap opera Coronation Street has been played out.
Trouble began to brew within weeks of Pogba’s arrival. A month later, Mourinho highlighted an “ill-disciplined” display in the 2-1 derby defeat to City.
In return, the France superstar’s disquiet at his usage in a holding pair rather than an attacking spot on the left of a midfield three played out in the media.
This situation bubbled under until a 2017/18 spoiled by disquiet about bespoke – and unauthorised – fitness programmes, plus a decline in form during the new year that reaches its nadir in a loose display in defeat at Tottenham and subsequent benching for the shock Champions League elimination by Sevilla.
JUST IN! 😳
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 26, 2018
Frosty footage just in from @ManUtd's training session between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho… ❄️
What has been said between the pair this morning? 👀 pic.twitter.com/nRiTEgDJlH
A rapprochement now seems even further away.
An acidic remark from the Portuguese boss – under increased pressure after being outplayed on Tuesday night and defeated on penalties by the Championship’s Derby in the League Cup third round – led to an exasperated response from an erratic player seemingly emboldened by his World Cup 2018 triumph, plus interest in his services from Barca.
Build-up to this third defeat from eight largely miserable 2018/19 matches was headlined by Mourinho stripping a mutinous Pogba of the vice-captaincy. A subsequent explanation from the former that there was “no fall-out at all” is not borne out by the startling evidence of the past few days.
Pogba’s return of four goals and two assists in seven club appearances this term is commendable, even if three of these strikes came from the penalty spot.
But his overall influence does not stand up to scrutiny.
An average pass accuracy in the Premier League this term of 82.1 per cent points to a lack of control; exemplified by the amateurish flick on the halfway line that ultimately led to Saturday’s equaliser for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Some people make polemic even from “good morning” to create drama 🙄 Big Pogoodmorning everyone hope u get it twisted 😂
— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) September 24, 2018
He also looked more spoiled child than midfield general during last month’s horrible 3-2 loss at Brighton & Hove Albion. His five dispossessions led the way among team-mates.
Pogba was bought with the intention of having the same galvanising impact as Gallic forefather Eric Cantona. Reality has been far removed.
As for Mourinho, second-division Derby registered half-time possession of 52.5 per cent – this coming long before the ready-made excuse of goalkeeper Sergio Romero’s red card.
He’s now begun the third season of his reign and still there are zero signs of the 55-year-old imparting a collective vision.
A squad that now possesses the second-highest wage bill in global football – at £295.9m (Dh1.4 billion) – play like strangers. Supporters can only dream of witnessing the cohesion apparent at neighbours City, Liverpool and under-resourced Tottenham.
Disjointed United’s xG (expected goals) of 9.57 for 2018/19 is nearly 10 fewer than City (18.50). It’s also the sixth-best in the division, making it churlish to cast their current eighth-placed positioning as misnomer.
Not even last term’s second place, or three trophies upon debut, should act as salve.
Worryingly, history appears to be repeating itself. 2015/16’s rupture with Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas – infamously labelled “three rats” by a partisan Chelsea fan – and the nuclear fallouts with Iker Casillas, Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid in 2012/13 bear mention.
Honour Mourinho’s contract until 2020 and a ruinous pattern of regression will further take hold. Prioritise the truculent Pogba and a monster will be foisted on the next manager – whomever that is.
Woodward cannot afford to duck the issue. Progress is not possible with either ungovernable figure in the ranks.
