Man United: Pogba and Mourinho’s legacies intertwined and not fond

The relationship between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba seems to be irreversibly damaged. As the fallout continues, it is Manchester United that pays the price.

As Mourinho faced the press after his side’s shock exit from the League Cup at the hands of Derby County, he had the look of a man on the edge of a cliff. Red-eyed and harangued, that press room looked like the last place the Portuguese manager wanted to be.

Prior to kickoff, news had broken that Paul Pogba had been told that he would never captain United again, a punishment for his repeated complaints to the media. His relationship with Mourinho, which had appeared to be healing in the wake of the Champions League performance against Young Boys, was upended all over again.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1044992390862376960

Pogba has been the cloud that has been hanging over Mourinho since the start of the manager’s time in charge. Signed for a world record fee in the summer of 2016, the midfielder was set to be the cornerstone of a new Manchester United, one that would finally throw off the shackles of the post-Ferguson era.

Instead, the Frenchman is now a millstone around Mourinho’s neck. As the two continue to bicker, the club’s performances on the pitch continue to suffer.

At United, they define each other

At this point in their United careers, it is just about impossible to talk about one without mentioning the other. Mourinho’s greatest achievement at the club (despite what he says about the second-placed finish last year) was winning the Europa League. Paul Pogba scored in the final against Ajax.

United’s greatest performance in the last two years has been the second-half comeback against Manchester City at the Etihad last season. Again, Pogba was instrumental, netting twice against the eventual champions.

Mourinho and Pogba have both been accused of failing to find consistency, whether it is with the media, on the pitch, or with their relationship as a manager and star player.

The inconsistency has spilled over into the rest of the team. Alexis Sanchez looks a shadow of the player he was at Arsenal. Pep Guardiola must be counting his blessings that he did not get saddled with the Chilean, and after over half a season of playing together, there is still no evidence that he has built up a rapport with Pogba.