Paul Pogba of Manchester United "unscathed" by losing captain's captaincy | Soccer

Paul Pogba claimed to have been removed from his post as vice-captain of Manchester United by José Mourinho and not to have been affected by his relationship with the manager.

Pogba had worn the armband in the absence of Antonio Valencia this season, but before the end of September, Mourinho had informed the Carabao Cup match that he would not do it anymore.

When Pogba returned to his previous club, Juventus, on Wednesday, the midfielder downplayed any suggestion that would upset him. "For me, it did not affect me. I still play and I'm really happy to play, "he said.

" The manager is the one who chooses the captain. Me, I was the second after Valencia. Then, if he takes the armband, it does not change anything. I just want to play, to play, it's my job – to give the best of myself for my team and for everyone, for the fans, for the club. It did not really touch me, did not touch me. Nothing has really changed.

After captaining United's win against Leicester in the first Premier League game, Pogba said he was not allowed to say certain things. This was taken to talk about tension with Mourinho and was an example of apparent unrest between them.

Asked about his relationship, Pogba said, "He's a coach-manager, a player-coach. Like everyone else [else] I will say. If I ask you this question, how is the manager with the other players? He [Mourinho] will say that he is the manager and they the player. I do what he tells me to do. He is the boss, he is the manager and I listen and I appreciate. I listen to it and I do it with happiness.

Mourinho gave a similar answer. "There is what the press says and another is what Paul says and another is what I say," he said. "The press said we had a terrible relationship, but a few months ago Paul said we had a typical relationship between a coach and a player, and I think we have a good relationship between a coach and a player. soccer."

Pogba was the subject of an offer. summer of Barcelona and there have been suggestions that the 25 year old wants to leave. The midfielder, however, said he was happy with United.

"Do I look sad?" He said before smiling. "No.

" Yes, I am happy. I am happy to wear the jersey, I am really happy to return to Manchester United [after leaving in 2012] wearing this jersey, playing for this team, this great club. When you play in a big club like this, there is always discussion. We know that everything can go on but on the pitch, I'm always happy, I'm always with a smile, I fight for my teammates, my club and my supporters. That's what I do and I'm really happy to do it. "

During the summer, Pogba won the highest honor of football as part of the triumphant French team of the World Cup. At the World Cup, he won four league titles in Italy. However, United has not managed to win the title for two years on his return and is already nine points behind Manchester City this time.

When asked when he felt comfortable with this, Pogba said, "I would not say that I am comfortable. . I am a challenger – I want to win trophies. My third season is still [going] and I hope we will win something. As a football player, that's why we play. The goal is the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions League as well.

"But we are still here, always on the way – the season is long and we know we have not started in the best way but it is not over. We will see in the end what happens.

"In my first season, we won three trophies – the Europa League [and League Cup and Community Shield] – and the Europa League was the main goal to return to the Champions League as well. The second year we finished second but we did not win any trophies – we went to the FA Cup final.

"I feel that everything is fine. It's good for me, good for the team. We are Manchester United and we are always waiting and we expect better from [people]. We are progressing and can always do better, but I am satisfied with my performance and what we achieved in two years.

United is second in Group H with four points, five behind Juventus. If they lose at the Allianz stadium on Wednesday night, the Italian club will be confirmed winner of the group. However, Mourinho pointed out that even if United was still beaten, United would still have the second qualification in the two previous matches.

"Tomorrow, the game is difficult and he is big enough not to think about the future" said, referring to Sunday's visit to Manchester City. "The match against Juventus is not crucial. Regardless of the outcome, our next matches against Young Boys and Valencia will be the ones that will determine whether we qualify for second place or whether we will move to the Europa League.

"So it's a game we want to win – we want to compete, we want to play, we have to play and we really want it. The best experiences for the teams are against teams who are really on top and we have this opportunity. But no matter what happens here or in Valencia, there are two games left to play and we can still qualify. "