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Football

18th Oct 2018

Man United midfielder confirms reason for Pogba vs. Mourinho training ground argument

Now that the international break is over, we can get back to Pogba vs. Mourinho

Darragh Murphy

Andreas Pereira has confirmed the reason for the now-infamous training ground argument between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho.

Last month, Sky Sports released footage of a tense exchange at Carrington the morning after Manchester United’s Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Derby County.

The relationship between Pogba and Mourinho was already under a media microscope prior to the release of the clip but the sight of the pair voicing opposing views sparked several theories about what the argument was about.

Mourinho could be heard ordering the French midfielder away from the group and the reason behind the hostility has since been confirmed by United midfielder Andreas Pereira.

Pogba had been left out of the Carabao Cup match at Old Trafford just hours after Mourinho stripped him of the vice-captaincy but he was sat in the stands and was posting to social media during the game.

And it was some confusion over the 25-year-old’s Instagram updates which apparently prompted the disagreement.

“We were winning the game 1-0 at the time of the video,” Pereira told Brazilian outlet UOL, as translated by Manchester Evening News.

“Then we lost the game, and people said that Pogba posted later. But he posted before.

“The manager thought that Pogba had posted later. He asked him why that had happened. There was a mood about it. These things were out here in England. But I have nothing to do with it.”

Many consider Mourinho’s ability to turn things around against Newcastle no more than a stay of execution for the United manager, who has come in for increasing criticism this season.

But Pereira, who has made just four appearances for the Red Devils this term, insists that the whole squad is behind Mourinho.

“The relationship is good, it’s cool. I have a very good relationship with him, with the players and he also has a good relationship with the players,” Pereira added.

“We don’t feel that pressure coming from outside. Everyone says that he’s being sacked. We do not feel that.

“I don’t usually have any English media on my phone so I don’t get intoxicated with everything they say.

“He’s our manager, we give our life on the pitch for him and for us too. Everyone is very calm, very focused and very happy.”