Former Arsenal defender, Martin Keown has stated that Gunners ex-manager, Arsene Wenger and former Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson would have handled midfielder, Paul Pogba’s situation differently is the case with the current Red Devils coach, Jose Mourinho.
Keown expressed optimism that Wenger and Ferguson would have kept the matter in house rather than playing it out in public.
The former defender described Mourinho and Pogba’s feud as a ‘power struggle’, but advised the United boss to keep the row behind closed doors.
He pointed out that the ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid manager should be ‘building bridges’ with his players rather than burning it down, reiterating that Mourinho is approaching the situation the wrong way.
And he advised Mourinho to borrow a leaf from Wenger and Ferguson’s books, by disciplining Pogba in private.
“The footage that emerged of Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba’s interaction at Manchester United’s training ground was telling. These are two men locked in a power struggle,” Keown told the Daily Mail.
“He clearly feels Pogba is being disrespectful, whether that is through his comments on the tactics or his social media posts. Whatever the reason for Mourinho’s mood towards his player, the £89million man is refusing to be restrained.
“They need to have a proper discussion in private, not in public. Do it in Mourinho’s office at Carrington, not on the training field while those eagle-eyed cameras are rolling. Show one another respect by doing that then keep whatever is said between yourselves. Don’t go leaking it.
“Mourinho should be building bridges with his players. I remember at the start of the season when Manchester United lost 3-2 at Brighton and Mourinho said he would not criticise his players in public.
“Instead, after that defeat, it was actually Pogba who came out and said the players’ attitude at the Amex Stadium was unacceptable. That looked like the manager was handing responsibility to the players. I thought that was perfect.
“That’s why I had so much respect for Arsene Wenger, because he never criticised his players in public. The same went for Sir Alex Ferguson. They saved it for behind closed doors, like it should be,” he added.
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