Sky Sports expert says vice-captaincy call is a 'kick in the teeth'
Tuesday 25 September 2018 23:45, UK
Jamie Redknapp insists there is now a "huge rift" between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba, despite the Manchester United manager denying a bust-up between the pair.
Mourinho confirmed on Tuesday night he had stripped the France international of the vice-captaincy, but told Sky Sports there was "no fall out, no problems at all" and that he did not need to explain his decision.
The call comes just days after Pogba - who was rested for United's Carabao Cup exit to Derby on Tuesday evening - said the team should "attack, attack, attack" when playing at home.
Sky Sports expert Redknapp does not believe Mourinho when he says has not fallen out with the club's record signing.
"There's been an almighty fall out," he insisted.
"That's a kick in the teeth if you tell someone they are the vice-captain and then you take it off him. You don't need me to say it.
"There's a huge rift between the two of them. I felt they might be able to recover it when Mourinho made him captain for a couple of games.
"I think it was probably the right decision to rest him today, but going forward I don't see how you patch that up."
Pogba insisted United had made a mistake in failing to attack Wolves in the 1-1 Premier League draw on Saturday and was not involved in the 8-7 penalty shootout loss to Derby on Tuesday.
Redknapp now expects Mourinho to leave the club before the World Cup-winning midfielder does.
"You can sack Jose Mourinho, but you can't sack Paul Pogba. What are you going to do with him?" he added.
"I've been in dressing rooms where the manager has lost the players and all you get is cliques. Players will get into their corners.
"That's how I see this Manchester United dressing room. I can visualise it now. There's so many unhappy people.
"Don't get me wrong, I don't think it was the brightest thing Paul Pogba ever said at the weekend, but what I will say is what this club does is attack.
"That has always been the blueprint here, to go for teams, and I don't think Jose Mourinho does that. That's not being disrespectful, it's a fact.
"He's one of the greatest managers ever, look at what he's won, but is he the right fit for Man Utd and their style of play? I don't think he is.
"The modern-day manager has got to be friends with these guys. You can't fall out with them."
Harry Wilson and Jack Marriott scored for Derby in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening before Phil Jones missed the 16th penalty in a dramatic shootout to see Mourinho's side exit the Carabao Cup.
Redknapp blamed the players for the loss, but insisted the manager was also at fault.
He added: "You had £335m of talent out there. If you can't, with no disrespect, beat Derby with that amount of talent then it's not good enough.
"Of course Mourinho is to blame. This is his team. He is falling out with players.
"He didn't bring on Alexis Sanchez today and it always feels like there is a war with him with his players.
"This is his team. He's got to stop falling out with people. That's not good management any more."
