Jose Mourinho believes that a former Manchester United star under him lost an all-important part of his identity after achieving an incredible feat in his playing career.
The ‘Special One’ arrived in the Old Trafford dugout in 2016 and replaced Louis van Gaal, who had been sacked after Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph.
Jose Mourinho enjoyed a successful first season in charge at United, including leading the Premier League club to the League Cup and Europa League trophy.
The 61-year-old manager followed up his debut season at Old Trafford by leading United to second in the Premier League and finishing runners-up in the FA Cup.
However, Mourinho’s spell at the Premier League club came to an end in his third season in charge, with the Portuguese coach dismissed in December 2018.
Despite his highs and lows at Old Trafford, the former United manager has spoken fondly about his time at the club and his appreciation for the fans.
Mourinho, who is currently a free agent after he was sacked by Roma, has now opened up about his relationship with one former United player at Old Trafford.
Mourinho talks ex-Man Utd star’s situation
Jose Mourinho’s time at Old Trafford oversaw the arrival of several marquee signings, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.
However, another staple signing of the Mourinho era at Manchester United was none other than World Cup-winning midfielder Paul Pogba.
Paul Pogba had come through the United youth academy and featured under iconic former manager Sir Alex Ferguson before he left Old Trafford in 2012.
The 31-year-old Frenchman signed for Juventus and made a name for himself in his first spell at the Serie A outfit, with United bringing him back to the club in 2016.
Pogba, who was signed for a world-record fee at the time of £89m, was a divisive figure among United supporters and even had a falling out with Mourinho.
The former United star left Old Trafford for the second time in 2022 and returned to Juventus, with Pogba’s second spell in Turin hindered by injuries.
Pogba is unable to play professional football after he was handed down a four-year ban for a doping offence, with the 2018 World Cup winner denying any wrongdoing.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mourinho believes that the turning point for Pogba at United came when he lifted the 2018 World Cup with France in Russia.
“The only thing I say is that it happens with almost everybody in some moments of your career: you lose a little bit the sense of who you are and what you have to be,” he said.
“The season after France won the World Cup, I think Paul came back different. The World Cup brought him into a dimension where football was not the most important thing for him.
“Sharing the philosophy of everyone; everyone with the same level of responsibilities. I am not enjoying Paul’s situation at all.”
Mourinho on Pogba relationship at Man Utd
Pogba has vowed to appeal against his ban from football after a drugs test in 2023 found that he had elevated levels of testosterone in his system.
The suspended Juventus player’s ban has retrospectively been dated back to when he failed the drugs test, with Pogba unable to play football until 2027.
During his second spell at Old Trafford, Pogba lifted both the League Cup and Europa League under Mourinho and was a key player for the ‘Special One.’
Despite their fractured relationship at United, Mourinho candidly opened up about dealing with Pogba during his time at the Red Devils.
“When you are supported by the power, by the hierarchy, the message that passes through is very positive in the group,” he added.
“When you are not supported […] because the player is more important or what the player represents is more important – then you are in a fragile situation.
“Even if you are a coach with so much experience as was my case.”