The Red Devils' revival starts with retaining Mourinho

In the next few days, in order to help several new players integrate into the team as soon as possible, Mourinho arranged several warm-up matches of the nature of training matches, namely against Sheffield United in the English Championship, Nice in Ligue 1 and Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. The results were 1:0, 2:1, 2:2, and remained unbeaten; among them, Marco Verratti, who transferred from Paris Saint-Germain, performed particularly well. He was a substitute twice and a starter once in three games, played a total of 170 minutes, contributed 1 goal, 2 assists, and completed 225 passes in three games, 219 of which were successful, and the pass success rate reached 97%. In addition, there were 9 key passes in the three games and only 3 ball possessions were lost. The role on both offense and defense was very outstanding.

The sun was shining hotly on Manchester United's training ground. The players were conducting daily training intensively in preparation for the Premier League opener on August 18. Manchester United will host Leicester City at Old Trafford. The news that Maguire would face his old club was a hot topic a few days ago.

In the warm-up session at the beginning, the players jogged around the field. Pogba ran in the middle of the team with a slightly heavy pace, as if he had not yet fully entered the state. Mourinho stood on the sidelines, observing everyone's movements with sharp eyes.

In the subsequent passing training, teammates passed the ball accurately and quickly, and the ball rolled quickly on the grass. But when the ball was passed to Pogba's feet, he was a little hesitant in handling it, resulting in a mistake in receiving the ball, and the ball rolled to the side. Mourinho frowned slightly, but did not speak.

Next was the group confrontation training, and the players on both sides were actively fighting. Pogba tried to show his skills and broke through with the ball many times, but when facing the opponent's tight defense, he seemed a little powerless, and several attacks were unsuccessful.

Mourinho shouted loudly on the sidelines from time to time: "Pay attention to the running position! Speed ​​up the pace!" His voice was anxious.

The football under Pogba's feet seemed a little out of control, and several passes were deviated. On one occasion, he wanted to send a straight pass to his teammate in front of him, but he used too much force and the ball rolled directly out of the baseline. Mourinho witnessed all this on the sidelines, his face became more and more gloomy, his hands clasped in front of his chest, shaking his head constantly, and mumbling something.

"Pogba, focus!" Mourinho shouted loudly, his voice full of severity. His eyes were full of dissatisfaction and anxiety.

Pogba frowned more tightly, and dissatisfaction began to accumulate in his heart. He bit his lip and exerted force secretly, trying to be more focused, but in the next offensive coordination, his mistake once again caused the attack to stagnate. It was a corner kick opportunity. Pogba's corner kick was high and floating, and flew directly out of the penalty area without creating any opportunities for his teammates.

Mourinho could no longer suppress his anger and rushed into the training ground. "What are you doing? This is the most basic pass!" His voice echoed like thunder in the empty training ground, shaking the surrounding air as if it was trembling. As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, indicating how Pogba should pass the ball.

Pogba stopped and looked directly at Mourinho, his eyes burning with anger, and retorted: "I'm trying, coach, but you can't always blame me like this! I also have my own ideas and rhythm."

"Effort? Is this what you call hard work?" Mourinho's eyes were wide open, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing slightly, "Look at your performance, it's not up to the level it should be! You should be more focused and more determined!"

At this time, the other players stopped training, looked at them in surprise, and were at a loss. Some players lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at this fierce conflict; some whispered beside them.

Pogba's emotions completely broke out. He clenched his fists, took a step forward, and said loudly: "But this can't bring out my ability at all! I have my own way of playing football, you can't always force me to follow your ideas!"

The two refused to give in to each other, and at this time, the two assistant coaches Scholes and Van Nistelrooy ran over in time and separated the two. Mourinho's face was livid, and he walked back to the rest area beside the training ground, leaving Pogba standing alone, his chest heaving violently.

After the training, Pogba walked into the locker room without saying a word, and his teammates were also silent, and the atmosphere was extremely depressing.

On August 17, Manchester United Club announced the 18-man roster for the opening game against Leicester City: De Gea, Romero, Varane, Maguire, Theo, Ashraf, Mata, Rashford, Dalot, Gakpo, Olmo, Lukaku, Luke Shaw, Cavani, Lindelof, Verratti, Matic, McTominay.

Many people expected that several new players who transferred in the summer would be selected for the roster., but the failure of Pogba, the new World Cup champion and the core midfielder of the team last season, to be selected still caused great controversy. At the press conference, Mourinho was frequently asked by reporters whether Pogba's random selection was related to the previous training ground conflict. He simply said that the previous conflict was just a different understanding of the way of playing football, which had been properly resolved. Pogba's failure to be selected was because he participated in all the World Cup games, did not participate in the team's summer physical reserve, was unwell, and the team doctor recommended rest.

The reporters obviously did not believe a word of Mourinho's explanation, but they also knew that they would not get the results they wanted in front of Mourinho, an old man, and they all ran to surround Pogba, another party.

Watching Pogba's car drive out of the Carrington training base, a large group of reporters hurried to surround him. The flash lights lit up instantly, passing like lightning, and countless pairs of eyes stared at him closely.

At this time, Pogba had just learned that he was not selected for tomorrow's team roster. He left the training ground angrily and prepared to go home early. His face was covered with dark clouds, and his anger and dissatisfaction were like a volcano about to erupt.

Seeing the reporters surrounding him, Pogba did not retreat at all, and gently rolled down the car window. His eyes were firm and sharp, as if burning with a raging fire;

"Mr. Pogba, do you have anything to say about not being selected for tomorrow's opening game?"

"Mr. Pogba, coach Mourinho said you are unwell, what do you think?"

"Mr. Pogba,..."

"Mr. Pogba,..."

"I am very healthy. Steve McNally (Manchester United's senior team doctor) told me that I am as strong as a calf. I think I am in very good condition. Of course, as for why (I was not selected for the list), you have to ask Mourinho. This is his right. I just want to say that I am very healthy."

"Mr. Pogba, coach Mourinho said..." a reporter wanted to continue asking.

"Don't tell me what Mourinho said, he doesn't understand football at all!" Pogba was obviously furious, with uncontrollable anger, "His tactics are as rigid as rusty machines, and he can't bring out the true strength of our players! On the training ground, he always yells at me about my running and passing choices, and that sharp voice is like a ruthless whip hitting me, without giving me a chance to explain. Even if I think my choice is more conducive to offense, he firmly disagrees, and will only interrupt me rudely and ask me to follow his ideas."

A senior reporter asked first: "Mr. Pogba, why do you choose to bombard Mourinho at this time?"

Pogba took a deep breath, swept his eyes across the audience, and said: "It's no secret that there is an irreconcilable contradiction between Mourinho and me." His hands were waving fiercely in the air, as if trying to break some invisible solid cage. "Once, when I was arranging tactics before a match, I proposed my own idea, thinking that I could increase the midfield's ball control and advancement, but he mocked me in front of everyone, saying that I didn't understand tactics and only knew how to play by feeling. His contemptuous eyes and harsh words stabbed me like sharp blades, making me very uncomfortable. At that time, my teammates were silent, and the atmosphere was so tense that it seemed that it could be pierced by a needle. Everyone looked at each other and dared not speak. The scene was extremely embarrassing."

Another reporter immediately asked: "Coach Mourinho has led the team to many honors. Are you disrespecting him by doing this?"

Pogba's face changed slightly and he raised his voice: "Honor is a thing of the past, but the current situation is obvious to all. I respect his past achievements, but I can't ignore the current problems because of the past. And I want to remind you that I am the core midfielder of the French national team, the World Cup champion. In the past summer, I and my national teammates lifted the "World Cup Cup" together. "

"Mr. Pogba, you just mentioned the French national team. How do you evaluate your national team coach Deschamps? ”

“Deschamps, he is like a father.” Pogba’s face unconsciously showed a respectful expression, and his voice became softer, as if telling a warm secret. His eyes were bright, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and a warm current surged in his heart, “I respect him very much, and he has a very high status in my heart. Whether he was a player or a coach, he has created brilliance. He is the one who brought the highest honor to the French team! He knows how to formulate tactics according to the situation of the team and the opponent, instead of being conservative. In the national team, I am willing to follow his arrangements, because I know that every decision he makes is for the victory of the team and for our honor. Every time he communicates with me, his gentle and firm tone, always fills me with strength and makes me believe that I can do better. With him, I feel more like a man and more mature. "

"Deschamps' trust in me is unreserved. He always sees the shining points in me and gives me enough opportunities to show them. Whenever I encounter difficulties and feel confused on the court, as long as I see his firm eyes on the sidelines, I seem to have found the direction. He never blames me easily, but patiently analyzes problems with me after the game to help me grow.

Under his command, I feel a real team spirit. He makes every player understand that we are not isolated individuals, but a closely connected whole. His tactical arrangements are meticulous and every detail is carefully considered.

Moreover, Deschamps' care for players is not limited to the court. He cares about our lives and our status. He knows when to encourage us and when to sound the alarm for us. Being with him, I have not only made great progress in my skills, but also learned a lot in terms of mentality and interpersonal relationships.

I am really lucky to have met a coach like Deschamps in my football career. He is my mentor and friend, and a beacon on my football path. "

At this time, another reporter asked: "Mr. Pogba, what impact do you think this public accusation will have on the team?"

Pogba frowned and answered without hesitation: "I just told the facts. If this can make the team change and move in a better direction, it is worth it. I have always been eager to bring glory to Manchester United, but Mourinho has become a huge stumbling block on my way forward. His stubbornness and prejudice have put the team in endless trouble. He always emphasizes discipline and defense, but ignores the personality and creativity of our players, and treats us as puppets without thoughts. "Pogba panted, his chest rose and fell violently, and continued to vent his anger.

"He always pointed fingers at me and never trusted my judgment and ability. Every decision I made on the court was ruthlessly denied by him. There was even a crucial game when I was substituted early. He glared at me beside the bench. His ferocious eyes seemed to want to eat me alive. He was still muttering and scolding me, completely disregarding my feelings and dignity. "At this time, Pogba was like an extremely angry lion, showing his strong dissatisfaction with Mourinho to the outside world without reservation.

The entrance of the Carrington training ground fell into a dead silence for a while. Everyone was stunned by Pogba's sudden and stormy bombardment, and the air seemed to freeze.

After venting, Pogba gripped the steering wheel with both hands, and his knuckles turned white because of the force. He took a deep breath, stepped on the accelerator, and the car engine roared violently, like an angry lion. The tires rubbed against the ground rapidly, making a sharp and piercing "squeak". Pogba drove the car and rushed out like an arrow. The dust raised spread behind the car, forming a turbid smoke.

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the empty road , drawing out the long shadow of Pogba's car. The trees on the roadside retreated rapidly, and the leaves rustled in the breeze, as if whispering something. The mountains in the distance were shrouded in golden light, looking quiet and mysterious. The sunset glow on the horizon was like a burning flame, dyeing the entire sky orange-red.

At this moment, the breeze blew through the woods, the branches and leaves collided with each other and made a "rustling" sound, the homing birds chirped happily, Pogba's car rushed past with a whirring sound, and the continuous roar of the engine, the sharp sound of the tires rubbing against the ground, intertwined together, forming an exciting and chaotic symphony.

(Note: The opening game of the 2018-19 Premier League season was actually held on August 10, 2018, here to meet the needs of the plot.)