How fitting that Jose Mourinho’s final words as Manchester United manager referred to Paul Pogba.
Mourinho was asked why he didn’t start the club’s record signing for United’s trip to Liverpool on Sunday, a game which ultimately sealed Mourinho’s fate.
“Because I am happy with Matic, Lingard and Herrera,” he responded as he exited his last press conference as United boss.
The 55-year-old was sacked two days after the 3-1 defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s Reds and most fans will welcome a change in the dugout after a shocking start to the season for United.
Supporters are not the only ones relieved, however, as Pogba reportedly took the news of Mourinho’s dismissal rather well.
A report in the Mirror claims that the French midfielder celebrated the fact that he would no longer be playing under Mourinho by high-fiving his teammates in training once the news was relayed to the playing staff.
Pogba’s long-running feud with his now-former manager has been well-documented and the 25-year-old’s reaction on social media sparked outrage from some as the below post appeared on Pogba’s Instagram and Twitter just moments after Mourinho was relieved of his duties.
The photograph was quickly deleted and while Pogba has been given the benefit of the doubt by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who suggests that it must have been a pre-scheduled sponsored post rather than a dig at Mourinho, not everyone has been so understanding.
Gary Neville took to Sky Sports’ The Debate on Tuesday night to claim that Pogba had no excuse for the social media faux pas.
Neville said: “There is probably a high level of dislike there, but Jose Mourinho lost his job this morning and Paul Pogba and his people put that post out – don’t fall for this coincidence scheduled tweet nonsense, it’s garbage, absolute garbage.
WATCH: @GNev2 says excuse for @paulpogba's tweet after Jose Mourinho's sacking is 'garbage'.
More on #TheDebate now: https://t.co/xVG0fcgPFx pic.twitter.com/FfGACMejDO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 18, 2018
“I think he would have liked to have gone public earlier on Jose, and how the club is at this moment in time. But on Jose’s side, I bet he thought when Paul Pogba won the World Cup in the summer he was coming back to an impossible situation where he thought this player is going to be out of control now.
“I do believe that dancing on the grave of the manager who has just been sacked is out of order. Paul Pogba, there is no doubt, has fallen out with the manager. He doesn’t believe in him, he doesn’t like him, he doesn’t think he’s a good coach probably, and vice-versa.
“Jose Mourinho doesn’t think Paul Pogba is as good a player as he thinks he is. There’s been a complete breakdown in the last six months between the pair of them, probably the last year.”
