Jose Mourinho launched a scathing attack on Paul Pogba, calling the Frenchman "a virus" following Manchester United's 2-2 draw with Southampton, it has been claimed.
It is understood, per the Daily Record, that the midfielder was dressed down by the Red Devils boss in a changing room row that took place in front of the entire team.
The visitors went behind early on against Southampton, conceding twice in 20 minutes at St Mary's stadium.
But the visitors rallied back with goals from Romelu Lukaku and Ander Herrera in a first half that saw four goals.
It seemed as though United would go on to win the game but their display in the second half was flat and uninspiring.
At one point, cameras were on Mourinho when Pogba lost the ball by attempting a fancy flick. The United boss responded to the sloppy play by throwing his arms in the air and shouting angrily from the dugout.
According to the report, Mourinho gave the 26-year-old a major dressing down in the away changing room at full-time.
A source from the dressing room has claimed Mourinho called Pogba "a virus" and told him he showed a lack of respect toward his team-mates and fans with the nature of his performance.
The World Cup winner is said to have heard the following from his manager: "You don't play. You don't respect players and supporters. And you kill the mentality of the good honest people around you."
Mourinho was critical of United's midfield at full-time. When asked why his side struggled against Southampton, he told BT Sport: "I think because we lost so many balls in midfield. We lost so many balls in the last third it was difficult to have that continuity.
"I think that was the only reason.
"What we did so well in the last 15-20 minutes of the first half was to connect with the attacking players by transporting the ball, leaving the ball in the right moment, the right choice of pass, playing simple, accelerating the game.
"The second half we went back to that dynamic, again, of where we lose too many balls in midfield.
"And the players don't understand that simplicity is genius, especially in some parts of the pitc. They keep and keep and keep going to complicated football and it is difficult to have that continuity.
Kuyabil
381
i watched the game yesterday evening, and what the manager said is true, we hold the ball ⚽ for a long time, instead of connecting with the strikers quick, you could see Rushford coming to the middle of the park to look for the ball,pogba is not serious when it comes to play for Manchester United, it's the reason why ferguson let him go for free.i wonder why mourinho keeps using him instead of using young players like perreira and fred to build a partnership in midfield. mourinho doesn't trust young players like ferguson used to do.so it's both pogba and mourinho they are both a problem. matic looks tired and slow we need fast players to suite the Morden football.
12UnitedGuyReborn
341
I think Mourinho has a right to be angry at pogba because in the end it is the manager that takes all the blame what pogba did yesterday was unacceptable he is being paid week in week out to play for United but he does it like it's a charity work pogba should decide if he wants to play for United or not because what Pogba did last night wasn't Mourinho's fault at all
Nobcdloy
303
JM lost it from the very beginning with an unbelievable lineup with fellaini playing, an over cautious or even cowardly lineup. With matic playing surely you need another creative midfielder like mata or Pogba to partner him, not that clumsy fumbling fellaini. You’re boring off all MU fans with your sissy tactics time and again JM, you should resign before getting the sack JM, coz you’re just killing the MU’s traditional way of entertaining football. Yes, winning is important, but MU fans wants to see winning in style, that’s how we’ve always known all our teams. Remember , the win over Liverpool, was a lucky one due to Rashford’s brilliance, a player whom you don’t give enough playing time. Enough said, I’m sick of you JM, please fuck off ASAP!
ChidiebereIkeobi
259
I have been very supportive of Mourinho since the beginning of this season,all through the criticisms he has received,but now, I honestly think he has to leave,He is a great coach but I think he rests so much on his laurels and also is too egoistic.He has to leave,but the problem is getting a good replacement.
Hiuacdkopy
232
let's me start by saying I'm not a Man U fan and I think Pogba is overrated But I think something is fundamentally wrong with the manager we all make mistakes and we will continue to make mistakes sometimes the flicks and tricks come off sometimes not But I think it's time the manager takes some responsibility for what is going on at the club instead of finding excuses and blaming everyone else He should've nicknamed himself THE PERFECT ONE
Vipacdknot
194
for me it is simple the player are no longer motivated to play for Jose mourinoh. since the guys is always changing the line-up of the team and does not have a proper tactic. how can the players be motivated when you are playing matic and tominay at centre back when you have players like bailly and rojo on the bench. then Jose comes to pogba has a rant at him. This is not fair. for its simple Jose wants to be sacked to pocket the 22 millions as compensation. it is the third year syndrome. if manu does not want to pay the compensation to mourinoh just bench mourinoh at tell him not to come on the training ground. In short pay him for staying at home. and appoint a caretaker manager. or else Manchester United will be destroyed by mourinoh.
Shadrack1993
179
pogba was performing better in Juve, and he played the world class football we want, we have world class players in our team, mourino should stop putting the wait of the whole team on one player, if middle field is the promblem we have more world class middle fielders than other teams, they are expensive and well paid. I dont think the team is the problem is just the manager. Lets just face it our manager is lost in his past trophies and achievements than the team. He needs to wake up and stop putting the wait of the team on players. We cant continue like this. This is not the Man United i know, this is nightmare, killer of big players like Pogba, Sanchez, Lukaku and many others, Our manager cant handle the players to much attitude towards big player will not motivate them. Encourage the and let them play for the team and pride dont force them to play, Let them play.
ruyabepuyz
165
Paul and most of the other players need to understand that they are not the best players in the history of Manchester United, not even near to any. It is just unfortunate that the management and the entire Board are mute over their Careless attitudes. To be honest, excluding David, none of these players deserve to be at Manchester United and even if they’re, they should have been watching from the bench.
nazbeimotu
161
Pogba is behaving in this manner is because he had enough of Mourinho’s open unprofessional criticism of him and individual players ! He can’t see his own faults in changing players and changing their positions ! Why did he replace Rushford who was playing so well ? Lukaku — what was he doing ? Why wasn’t he replaced .. except for a goal assist .. what was he doing ? Mostly out of position ? Yes Pogba missed many balls but one must examine his mental state of mind ! Being criticised by e manager just because he wants to play Football his style which is a playmaker which is all over e field !!! So he can feed e ball to players he sees free and in a position to handle e ball with no marking ! But mou wants to control all e players !! Between Pogba and Mou , my strong view is tt Mou should be sacked . He causes strife to many of e players , hence they play like lost sheep .. all over e field with no clue about strategy etc .. Mou is destroying e team . If Mou does’nt leave soon, MU will not be able to be even in e CL next season !! Mou must go !!!
whykallar
146
There are things most (team)fans and soccer lovers don't know about. 1. A coach is signed to manage a team, in short he is the head and responsible for every mistakes players make, when is time to sack a coach, they don't sack any players along with him, this is why the CEOs don't focus on players and only focus on the coach to bring good results or else, he will be sack,. 2. The coach has every right to discipline players who is not performing well, to give other players chance to performs, A. As a student in a classroom if you disrespect your teacher you won't go unpuinish. B if you're working in a office and disrespect yours boss, you won't go free, you can even be older then him, he has every right to discipline you, ether by cutting your salary if he don't want to sack you. C. it's the same as soccer, at times when i see people talking about Jose don't respect his players, it sound funny to me, Jose as a coach duty is to discipline players, this is why they appointed him as coach, put him on a huge salary to get results, he is the head and must take the blames for bad results, don't expect the team's executives to come discipline players for Jose, because if he can't train his players very well, meaning he's not capable to handles the team, to bring in good results. 3. Now the main subject is, Pogba, A. There is no way you can compare Pogbo to Jose, be it experience or age, Jose is above him, likewise Jose is his boss. B. Pogba is not the best player on Man U. team. C. Pogba is not the highest pay player on Man U. team. D. Pogba think to himself he is the best player on the team, and don't even perform like the best player, and there disrespecting his manager and other players, likewise there poisoning other players to disrespect Jose, because he got influenced over them, this is not right at all. PLEASE LEAVE JOSE TO DISCIPLINE HIS PLAYERS THAT RECEIVING FREE SALARIES AND UNDER PERFORMING, JOSE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DEAL WITH THEM, THAT'S JOSE RESPONSIBILITIES, WHEN IT'S TIME TO SACK JOSE, NO PLAYERS WILL BE SACK ALONG WITH HIM. I HOPE SOME PEOPLE WILL NOW KNOW THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN, FAN, PLAYERS, MANAGER AND CEOS, LIKEWISE THEIR DUTY ON A TEAM.
calvinrashy
136
Seriously Mourinho made Pogba like this, he started off playing him well, allowing him to be creative but then last season, he then tells to park a bus. How can you show your skills when tending a bus, he used to be one of the best midfielders but now he is the virus, I tell you Mou treats his players like this because he wants to find someone to blame for his failures. He lost his dressing room and Pogba is the only brave one to display how Man United really is. I don't know how the board can keep up with a manager who can no longer play to win, last three games 0W 2D 1L, he can't connect with the players and the way they play is like they have guns to their heads, one wrong move and you are benched. Look at Bailly, McTominay gets to play even if not fond of playing defence. Not to say he never has anything stable, line up, how to start and end a game. Mou is not the right one anymore, better to sack him now or not get champions league qualification, Pogba is brave to show how things are really are.
piaelmnort
131
We outsiders do not see the full picture of what is going on at MU?Why is there so much criticism on Mourinho. He is the manager of the team let him carry on. He is doing his job let him do it. Let the season run and we can fare him at the end of the season. We are coming to Dec period where many games will be played in a short time. Good teams can loose valuable points during this period. Let's wait and see.