Paul Pogba left Old Trafford on Wednesday night with the stony-faced expression of a man who continues to be less than happy with life at Manchester United.
Asked to comment on his bit-part role in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal, the club's record £89million signing shrugged and said 'what do you want me to say?' before disappearing into the night.
Pogba had been benched for the second time in four games along with United's other most expensive acquisition Romelu Lukaku.
The Frenchman received a mixed reception when he came on for Jesse Lingard in the 75th minute and was first out of the exit afterwards, closely followed by Lukaku.
It wasn't as if they were being rested for more important games either.
Arsenal are a far tougher proposition than bottom-of-the-table Fulham will be on Saturday, and then United fly to Spain for what could be a largely irrelevant final Champions League group game against Valencia.
Jose Mourinho was making a statement by dropping his two biggest names despite already being without Alexis Sanchez, who returned to Chile on Monday for treatment on his hamstring injury.
It's understood that Pogba was uppermost in Mourinho's mind when he accused some of his players of being afflicted by 'a virus' running through the club before Saturday's draw at Southampton.
After another careless performance from the Frenchman, Pogba was immediately informed that he would be dropped for the Arsenal game.
Mourinho pointedly wrote in his programme notes: 'There isn't space for people that are not ready to give it their all.' While the manager's issue with Pogba is one of attitude and application, Lukaku is more a matter of confidence. Prior to his goal at Southampton, the Belgian hadn't scored in 12 games for his club.
With Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in attack against Arsenal, and Ander Herrera taking Pogba's place in midfield, United played with more zest and that was appreciated by fans.
'We need happiness on the pitch,' said Mourinho. 'We need people who give that good feeling, and the three young guys (Rashford, Lingard and Martial), quite light, were alive, agile, creative. The midfield was strong, Herrera pressed so so well and so so hard.' With so many games coming up over Christmas, Mourinho will need to use his squad. Pogba and Lukaku will be back, possibly as soon as Saturday.
But Mourinho is clearly losing patience with his stars, and former United midfielder Paul Ince, for one, believes he is right to get tough with them.
'I'm getting bored of them both,' Ince told Paddy Power News on Thursday.
'Against Arsenal, the game was quite exciting and fun until those two came on the pitch.
'He did the right thing in dropping Pogba and Lukaku. They don't seem remotely interested, and they're just not good enough.
'Lukaku isn't scoring goals at the moment. And when he isn't scoring goals, what is he good for? Nothing. He brings nothing to the table.
'When it comes to Pogba. It's just another drama, another chapter in the life of him. He was atrocious against Southampton and didn't deserve to be picked for a game like Arsenal.
'You can see the mood of the fans changing, and their attitude and tolerance towards Pogba too.
'It's rare that United fans would boo a player, but they're getting sick of his behaviour. There aren't many United fans that would be sad to see him go.'
gamemasterutd
264
I think sir Alex somewhat knew this would happen in the early days of Pogba that's why he got rid of him, Pogba is a world class player, no doubt about that but his attitude in the pitch is just not good enough, loosing balls , not tracking back, irrelevant diving to get a free-kick, I mean with a player like Pogba calibre united midfield should be one of the best in pl but it isn't the case, Mourinho brought Pogba to build a team.around him and now he is frustrated from his inconsistent performance, no wonder if he might sell Pogba back to Juve and get Pjanic or Dybala. anyways it's the board decisions to either sack Mourinho and get someone else like poch, Zidane and keep Pogba or keep Mourinho and give him money to buy players he want. I would go with Mourinho any day, Pogba will be the same irrespective of the manager.
diwbcikpst
229
Drop them if they cannot perform so what they are expensive. Play them while they can't perform fans will make hell of noise. Dun play them fans also make hell of noise.
Yuwados
190
to me All I can say is that no player is bigger than the club or coach as for the case of pogba he is gradually loosing his respect and if he don't change his attitude it will definitely affect his career let me say this open if pogba should leave Man United today you will see a different Man United. I wish players can be sacked. no one is an unhappy as Jose murinho on what's going on in the team he loves so much. it's left for Man United borad to decide between pogba and murinhou whom they want but all I know is that the two can not work together
sudbdknyz
65
is time for the boy to sit right. he has lost the ball too many times since coming. his life style has to change. too much fun is killing him and his game. good player though but I will like to see more seriousness in him. on lukaku - I will blame the coach and him for that. he,Lukaku,has only one job to do on the field and that's to score goals not defend, not run around but score go disturb the opponents centerhalf, give them hell. but look at as composition? always backing the net he wants to score in. he hasn't won any run nor header nor shoot outside the box. will you ever see him in the box? muo has lots of works to do on him. I don't think they fit each other.