Manchester: Jose Mourinho’s tenure as Manchester United manager has lurched from shaky to embarrassing following a series of developments on Tuesday.
The Portuguese coach was left red-faced amid fresh talk of a rift with Paul Pogba as United crashed to a shock penalty shoot-out defeat against Frank Lampard’s second-tier Derby County in the League Cup on Tuesday.
Just hours after Mourinho reportedly told unsettled star Pogba that he would never captain the team again, United slumped further into dismay and crisis against Championship side Derby, managed by Lampard, who was Mourinho’s captain when they were both at Chelsea.
It was all going fine as Juan Mata had put United ahead in the opening moments, but Harry Wilson equalised and, after United had goalkeeper Sergio Romero sent off, Jack Marriott gave Derby the lead with just five minutes left.
Substitute Marouane Fellaini, the only man in the Old Trafford dressing room who appears to be giving his all to fight for Mourinho and United, nodded home an equaliser deep into stoppage-time to make it 2-2, but even that could not save United from another humiliating result.
Following 15 successful penalty-spot conversions, United defender Phil Jones saw his effort saved by Scott Carson to give Lampard’s men an 8-7 win. Premier League losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, coupled with Saturday’s draw against Wolves, have left United eight points off Premier League leaders Liverpool and now they are out of the League Cup.
Mourinho, who has routinely blamed his players following disappointing results, added more fuel to the fire regarding his managerial ways and talk of a rift in the United dressing room when he seemed to question the ability of Jones and Eric Bailly. “I knew that we were going to be in trouble, with Jones with Eric. I knew that we were going to be in trouble then,” he said, referring to the list of penalty takers remaining in the shoot-out.
How about that for a confidence booster for Jones just after you have let your team and their fans down at home?
Then there is the Pogba saga. The 2016 world record signing has deputised as skipper in the absence of Antonio Valencia three times this season.
However, the French World Cup winner’s latest outspoken comments criticising Mourinho’s defensive tactics in the draw at home to Wolves on Saturday have provoked a reaction from Mourinho.
The pair have had a tumultuous relationship dating back to Mourinho dropping Pogba routinely for big games last season.
Pogba has scored four times in seven appearances and also set up Fred’s opener against Wolves, but he was also at fault for the visitors’ leveller.
“I think teams are scared when they see Manchester United attacking and attacking,” Pogba said after the match. “That was our mistake.”
This seems to have prompted a reaction from his manager, who has claimed, yet again, that he has not fallen out with Pogba and all is rosy in the dressing room. “The only truth is I made the decision of Paul not to be the second captain anymore,” said Mourinho after the latest defeat on Tuesday night, for which Pogba was rested.
“I am the manager I make these decisions, no fallout at all, no problem at all. The same person who takes the decision to make him second captain makes this decision now.”
It was reported that Mourinho informed Pogba in front of his teammates on Tuesday, claiming he “doesn’t represent what a captain is and Manchester United is bigger than anyone”.
Pogba has already been linked with a move to Barcelona. The question now remains, who will leave first: the World Cup-winning Frenchman or the coach who blames everyone but himself ...
