Jose Mourinho’s Paul Pogba comments are just the Manchester United boss using the media… as Fergie taught him
The Special One unleashed extraordinary outburst on critics of world-record signing but haven't we seen all this before?
THE first time Jose Mourinho met Sir Alex Ferguson he was rocked by his post-match comments.
Mourinho’s Porto had just beaten Manchester United 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash in February 2004.
Roy Keane had been sent off for an obvious stamp — and afterwards Fergie blasted Porto’s play-acting.
There had been little or no evidence of this but, as Mourinho watched on, he realised Fergie was already preparing for the return leg.
Already trying to get into the officials’ heads, the fans’ heads, that this was a team of divers. After all, we had seen it a year earlier in the Uefa Cup final when they beat Celtic, hadn’t we?
Mourinho learnt in that first experience of Fergie the power of the media in getting a message out there.
Porto would triumph in that second leg with a late goal and go on to win the final. But their boss had added a string to his bow.
The power to deflect away from a loss, a poor display and unwanted scrutiny, by changing the subject and moving the debate elsewhere.
In 2005-06, United were KO’d at the group stage after losing to Benfica. Afterwards, Fergie claimed the press hated United.
It was a preposterous assertion, yet it became the debating point on TV the next day — not the fact they had finished bottom of a group that also included Lille and Villarreal. For Fergie that was job done.
So it was yesterday at Carrington, as Mourinho was quizzed about world-record signing Paul Pogba’s woeful performance at Chelsea on Monday night.
Straight after his 1-0 FA Cup exit, Mourinho claimed the £89million man was the best player on the pitch.
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But yesterday he switched the debate to envy of young footballers earning millions. Pogba had not played badly — rather pundits were apparently penniless and needed to be controversial.
Pogba had not had a shocker — instead the world was increasingly jealous of young, working-class players who have made good.
Really? Is that what the world has come to? There, I have fallen into the trap of asking the exact question he wants us to.
Instead of questioning how a player who won a hat-trick of Serie A titles with Juventus misplaced 21 passes at Stamford Bridge.
Why, at a towering 6ft 3in, he was so weak in his attempt to block 5ft 7in N’Golo Kante from getting off the match-winning shot.
Nope, no analysis of that should be needed, it seems. Yet the biggest sport in the world demands it.
It is not achievement that brings criticism. Flaunting the success and wealth that comes with it can do that.
Silly videos on Twitter and YouTube, and hugging the opposition manager when you have just had a shocker does that.
Barring one crucial assist that won the league for Manchester City in 2012, Mario Balotelli was useless.
But he was a hero among City fans.
His flamboyant and often controversial off-field antics did that — but they also attracted vitriol from the opposition terraces.
Pogba’s performances for United up until Monday had been improving. Now Mourinho wants us to think that any criticism of him merely exposes a worrying level of envy.
Pogba may get more support from United fans as a result, which was the whole idea when Mourinho walked into his press conference.
We almost forgot that they play Rostov tonight in the Europa League last-16 second leg, tied at 1-1.