REUTERS – Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho stripped France midfielder Paul Pogba of his vice-captain’s role at the club but denied there was a rift between the pair.

The announcement came amid other reports that Mourinho had dressed down the World Cup winner in front of his team mates, telling him he would never be captain at United again.

Yet when asked about all this, Mourinho said breezily after Tuesday’s (September 25) League Cup defeat by second-tier Derby County, that there was “no fallout, no problems at all” with Pogba about his demotion but it was a decision that the Portuguese said he did not have to, and would not, explain.

Footage emerged on Wednesday (September 26) of a frosty exchange at United’s training-ground between the pair, with Pogba looking quizzical and non-plussed by stony-faced asides from Mourinho, only added fuel to suggestions of a major rift.

Mourinho had rested 25-year-old Pogba for Tuesday’s game along with several other players.

The Portuguese declined to give a reason for his decision to take the United vice-captaincy away from the World Cup winner.

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