Ex-Man Utd players are getting fed up of the “biggest d*ck” contest between Pogba and Mourinho

Ex-Manchester United players and coaches have expressed their frustration with the growing rift opening up between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba.

A conflict seems to have existed between the pair since last season when Pogba was dropped for several important fixtures including both of United’s games against Sevilla in the Champions League.

Pogba was removed from the vice-captaincy following the midfielder’s criticism of Mourinho’s tactics in their 1-1 draw against Wolves on Saturday. The World Cup-winning France international suggested that the Red Devils should play more attacking football.

On Wednesday a viral video emerged of the two having an animated exchange at Carrington, United’s training complex.

The ongoing hostility is frustrating former United players and coaches who want to see their former club do well. Here’s three former United players and two former coaches who have vented their frustrations of late.

1. Dimitar Berbatov

Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov says the rift should have been kept under wraps and the pair need to end their “dick measuring contest.”

“If you are a captain or vice-captain, you’re more often than not speaking on behalf of the players, and there is nothing wrong with giving the manager your thoughts,” he told Betfair.

“But this shouldn’t be done in the media – it helps nobody for these arguments to be played out in public. Apart from the media themselves of course!

“In modern football, players are very powerful, they are the stars of the show. It’s normal for them to have opinions, but they need to be backed up.”

“I’m really surprised it has got to this stage. This sort of thing really needs to be kept in-house. You’re all grown-ups, figure it out in the dressing room. As someone who wants Manchester United to do well, I’m fed up of waking up and seeing these headlines.

“Football should be about what happens on the pitch, not who has the biggest d*ck. It’s a stupid situation.”

2. Anderson

Anderson, another former Red Devil who played during the Sir Alex Ferguson era, has also expressed his concerns over the growing conflict and says that it can’t be allowed to spoil United’s ethos.

“I know he’ll be frustrated because he didn’t get the players he wanted, but he has to sort that out internally he doesn’t have to be whinging in the press every day,” Anderson said (via Goal). “I don’t know what the outcome will be, but something has to give.

“Mourinho has lots to do, no one is bigger than the club whether that is Paul Pogba or Jose Mourinho, if they have a problem they need to meet up somewhere and sort it out, because Manchester United need to be challenging on all sides.

“They have just got to move on. We cannot spoil the Manchester United ethos. One of them has to be big enough to say ‘It’s got to be me, I’ll leave and let’s move on.'”

3. Lee Sharpe

Lee Sharpe, who played under Ferguson in the early to mid 1990’s, has voiced his dissatisfaction with United’s style of play and their inability to adapt to win in the past, and on the current situation he says that players are very powerful in the modern game because they have more options to play at the top level than ever before.

“Player power has grown over the last 10-15 years because of the wages they’re on,” he told Sport 360.

“It’s difficult for a manager at that level to keep power over a group. And when you’re not winning trophies there’s not much of a hook to keep you there.

“It used to be players would never want to leave United and Liverpool. But now there’s plenty of big clubs throwing money and able to challenge in the Champions League.

“You have more alternatives as a player at a big club. I’m not sure if it’s a case of him losing control but the players not agreeing with the tactics and the way they’re playing, it’s a bit of a problem.”

4. Rene Meulensteen

Former Red Devils assistant manager Rene Meulensteen is also growing tired with the ongoing feud.

“Obviously there is a problem because there are certain things as a manager between your players you want to keep between the walls of the dressing room,” the former coach said (via Goal).

“That is part of the strength of the squad and that’s what you need when you are getting into difficult times, like Man United are in at the moment.

“That’s when you need to pull together and close the ranks, rather than throw something out that again opens up the speculation and causes a lot of disruption.”

5. Mike Phelan

Mike Phelan spent 14 years alongside Ferguson in the dug out, and the former coach thinks the Portuguese tactician should pipe down and get on with the job.

“Any manager of any big institution, which is what Manchester United is, internationally, you have a role and a responsibility to give out the correct messages,” Phelan said (via the Daily Star).

“You don’t have to avoid conflict, but you certainly have to conduct yourself in a way which is befitting of the tradition of where you’re working.

“I think that’s something you can do by keeping your own counsel and getting on with the job.”

Manchester United are back in action in the Premier League against West Ham in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

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