Manchester United must keep Paul Pogba… even if it means losing Jose Mourinho
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JOSE MOURINHO will know his battle with Paul Pogba is one he can’t win.
If you asked supporters who they’d like to remain at Old Trafford out of the two, the majority would vote in favour of the flamboyant Frenchman.
United should be building the team around Pogba and extending his contract - even if that’s at the expense of Mourinho.
Pogba is a leader, a player young enough to improve, but also who already has enough experience to help guide United towards more trophies and attract more stars.
We saw at the World Cup what Pogba was capable of. The question is why has Mourinho failed to get the best out of him since he re-joined the club in 2016?
Certain pundits have suggested that United’s most expensive signing would get more freedom and improve under a different manager.
Doubts remain as to whether Mourinho can change own his style and appease disgruntled Reds.
Rumours of discontent originally surfaced early last season, when after an impressive start, United and Pogba’s form dipped.
The player found himself on the bench, and fans became confused as to where he might fit in Mourinho’s starting XI.
You don’t need to have been a body language expert to see how the situation has deteriorated since then.
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Even last month Mourinho called on the midfielder to bring the same focus he displayed for France at the World Cup to his games for United.
And then last week a surprise - and also a sign that Mourinho was starting to back down.
The Portuguese boss handed his World Cup winner the captaincy before the opening game of the season against Leicester.
It was a decision that provided Pogba with the kind of responsibility he looked comfortable with in Russia.
He responded with a brilliant performance, tucking his penalty away with the type of confidence you’d expect from a player with his world class qualities.
Was this an end to the internal bickering? Apparently not.
A bizarre tweet from Pogba after the game was followed by comments he feels he is being prevented by certain people from saying everything he’d like to the media.
Was it another indication of the kind of restrictions put on him by his manager?
Then there’s off the field and what he brings commercially to the club.
It’s 2018, which means fans are all too aware of Pogba’s marketing importance, and therefore understand Ed Woodward’s determination to keep hold of him.
So, what next? It’s early days in the Premier League, but you do wonder how Pogba and Mourinho might work together when the pressure intensifies.
...Particularly at home and abroad in the Champions League between now and Christmas.
Mourinho has made a career out of falling out with big personalities, but it usually occurs once he’s secured a league title - something he hasn't managed to deliver at United.
The battle with Pogba is one of the most challenging of his career.
While he craves success, in order for him to achieve that at Old Trafford, he needs a willing Pogba.
Supporters realise that United’s best chance of blossoming over the coming years is with the Frenchman.
Whether Mourinho needs to be there for this happen is up for debate.