Jose Mourinho has ‘never been so happy with Paul Pogba’ and confirms he will captain Manchester United at Brighton
Jose Mourinho says he has never been happier with Paul Pogba as the Manchester United manager dismissed talk that tensions had come to a head this week.
The World Cup winner impressed in last Friday's Premier League opener against Leicester, opening the scoring in a 2-1 win in which he captained the team .
However, Pogba's post-match interview fuelled questions about how happy he was at Old Trafford, with the Frenchman saying: "There are things that I cannot say otherwise I will get fined."
A report this week said it had led to an angry exchange, while Standard Sport understands that Barcelona remain interested in the player.
But speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brighton, Mourinho moved to defus such talk.
In Pictures | Manchester United vs Leicester City | 10/08/2018
In Pictures | Manchester United vs Leicester City | 10/08/2018
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"The truth is we are together for two years and a couple of weeks, and I've never been so happy with him as I am now," Mourinho said.
"That's the truth. I cannot demand more from him, I cannot ask more from him."
"He came here on a Monday, he trained three days, I asked for his support, for his contribution in an important match for us when the team had difficulties.
"He did it better and for more time than we could expect. When he says he did it for the fans and for the team, it is exactly what I want. It is exactly what I demand from my players, what he is giving me.
"He's working well, he's playing well, he does for the fans, he does for the team and that's what I want.
In Pictures | Paul Pogba
In Pictures | Paul Pogba
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"I want him to to play for the team, which he is doing, and, I repeat, I couldn't be happier than I am."
Mourinho confirmed Pogba will wear the captain's armband again at Brighton on Sunday.
Additional reporting by the Press Association