Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed Paul Pogba will start against Huddersfield in Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round clash.
Plenty has been speculated about Pogba’s future at Old Trafford in the last week amid suggestions the 24-year-old regrets returning to United.
The France international reportedly wants Mourinho to change formation so he can rediscover his best form but the United boss has refuted those claims and says Pogba will start on Saturday.
“I think you are nice with your words because when you say a lot of speculation you should say a lot of lies,” the Manchester Evening News quote Mourinho as saying on Friday. “Because I accept and can speak on Paul’s behalf without any kind of problem, Paul accepts he has not been playing well.
“But that’s all and if you want to speak about it that’s one thing and speculation your word makes a little bit of sense but the majority of things you can read and listen, don’t be polite, be objective and says lies.
“I don’t have to speak with you about my conversations with my players, it’s my problem, the player’s problem, a big lie that our relation is not good, a big lie that we don’t communicate, a big lie that we don’t agree with his positions and his involvement in the dynamic of the team.
“So be objective and say what we all know in the couple of matches: he didn’t play well, period. End of story. Now it’s my problem and Paul’s to improve his performance level, you don’t need to be a liar.
“It’s easy and honest and objective to say Paul didn’t play well against Newcastle but some of the guys are paid millions, don’t let people read things that are not true, you are paid to read the game and explain the game. Don’t say bulls**t.
“He had a big (hamstring) injury in the season, big injury. He had a big injury, he almost went to surgery like [Ousmane] Dembele in Barcelona with a similar injury, the decision was not to do it and go to a conservative treatment. Everyone really happy.
“When he is not a good level the team is not as good, it happens with every team when the most crucial players are not performing. You don't need to come with ‘we want to sell him’, you don’t need that. Some people go in that direction, some of them I know for many, many years and I know their surname is Liar, and that’s not nice. He plays tomorrow.”
Real Madrid are reportedly monitoring the situation with a view to making a summer move for the United No.6.
Zinedine Zidane’s side missed out on Pogba’s signature and are interested in finally prising him to Spain as they plot major squad surgery at the end of the season.
Only Kevin De Bruyne (14) and Leroy Sane (10) have provided more Premier League assists than Pogba (9) this season.
