The ManicaPost
Jose Mourinho said all the right things after Paul Pogba helped spark Manchester United back into life with victory at Bournemouth on Wednesday night.
Yet the manager’s body language seemed to tell a different story. The £89 million club record buy was taken off after 80 minutes — the seventh time he has been subbed this season — despite having had a hand in both United’s goals. As Pogba approached the bench, Mourinho motioned for him to sit down before applauding. Instead, Pogba headed for the tunnel after shaking hands with some of the backroom staff. He was quickly called back and took his place behind his boss. Mourinho made seven changes to the side beaten by West Brom on Sunday, with one eye on Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Tottenham.
When told the Frenchman was BT Sport’s man of the match, Mourinho winced but did say: “He was very good tonight. Against City he was phenomenal, but today he was very good. I’m not very good on man of the match but that’s a good choice.”
Paul Scholes, having earlier said Pogba had given a ‘disrespectful’ performance against West Brom, praised him on Wednesday night and said: “If he keeps playing like that then there shouldn’t be a better player in world football.”
But Mourinho was still clearly annoyed by Sunday’s defeat by West Brom which handed Manchester City the title. He added: “My face is still the face of last Sunday and not the face of somebody who just finished a game and a win.
“I still live with the emotions of last Sunday. OK, no doubts about City’s quality, and that in any circumstances they would win this title because they are the better team.
“But we could have, I would say 10 more points than we have. No doubts we should have 10 more points.” — Daily Mail.
