Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial set for Man Utd stay after Jose Mourinho axe
PAUL POGBA and Anthony Martial's career at Manchester United have just taken another twists as the Red Devils have confirmed Jose Mourinho has left the club.
Both players have been at odds with the Portuguese coach putting their futures at Old Trafford in doubt.
Mourinho was sacked on Tuesday morning following United's 3-1 loss to league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, and falling 19 points behind them in the table.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward delivered the news in person to the 55-year-old manager at the club's training ground.
The Portuguese was believed to have lost trust of the dressing room much earlier but his feuds with Pogba and Martial were most evident.
The midfielder has not started for the Red Devils in their last three Premier League games, prompting speculations over a Juventus reunion in January.
Pogba has been stripped off vice-captaincy this season and called a "virus" by Mourinho - revealing how severe the breakdown in their relationship was.
The ex-Juventus ace even seems to have had a dig at his former boss in a cryptic Instagram post following Mourinho's sacking.
Martial has also struggled with playing time over the last month despite bagging eight goals this season.
His agent has recently admitted being "pessimistic" about contract talks with United, despite triggering a one-year contract extension by the club.
The mutual hostility between the pair and the Portuguese coach cast shadow over their careers at Old Trafford.
However, with Mourinho and his antics now gone, the Frenchmen are on course for a fresh start - and might set to stay after all.
Their ex-teammate Michael Carrick is set to take charge at Old Trafford while the club is looking for a replacement - and will inevitably try to utilise both Martial and Pogba having no agenda against them.
In another good news for the duo, their countryman Zinedine Zidane is also in the mix for the United job.
The former Madrid coach has been a long-term admirer of both Pogba and Martial, and even wanted to lure them to the Bernabeu while in charge of Los Blancos.
Another French coach Laurent Blanc is also in contention to take over at Old Trafford with the bookies slashing odds on the ex-PSG boss' appointment as United's caretaker.