Mourinho: No player is bigger than Manchester United

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has warned Paul Pogba that no player is bigger than the club, which comes on the heels of the pair’s disagreement this week.

The relationship of the two degenerated this week after Mourinho stripped Pogba of the vice captain role after the French midfielder criticised his tactics in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Wolves.

Afterwards both were captured on camera in an awkward exchange at training on Wednesday, when Mourinho appeared to take issue with an Instagram post from Pogba following their Carabao Cup defeat to Derby County.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Mourinho said he felt compelled to act.

“Manchester United is bigger than anyone and I have to defend that,” Mourinho said.

“After weeks of analysing and exchanging opinions with my coaching staff, we made the decision that from now Paul is just a player and not a captain. “So, the decision is made.”

“The relationship between player and manager is good. It is not any more a relationship between captain – or one of the captains – and manager,” Mourinho said. “Nobody trained better than Paul on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Some trained as well as him but nobody trained better than him and tomorrow he plays.

“No player is bigger than the club. If I am happy with his work, he plays. If I am not happy with his work he does not play. I am happy with his work this week, really happy.

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“The team needs good players. He is a good player. The team needs players with the personality to play. He has [it], ” concluded the coach

“So he plays tomorrow (Saturday)” United tackle West Ham United away.