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

Paul Pogba claimed that Manchester United's vice-capitalism by Jose Mourinho did not affect him and that his relationship with the manager was healthy.

Pogba had worn the armband in the absence of Antonio Valencia this season, but before the Carabao Cup match against Derby County in late September, he had been informed by Mourinho that he did not would do more.

Back from Pogba in his previous club, Juventus, for Wednesday's Champions League match, 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 to victory over Leicester in the opening match in the Premier League, 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] I would say. If I ask you this question, how does the manager appear with the other players? [Mourinho] will say that he is the manager and they the player. I do what he tells me to do. He is the boss, the manager and I listen and I appreciate. I listen to it and I do it with happiness. "

Mourinho offered 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 says we have a terrible relationship, but a few months ago Paul said we had a typical relationship between coach and player, and I think we have a good relationship between a coach and a football player."

Pogba was the subject of an offer from Barcelona in the summer and it was suggested that the 25-year-old wants to leave. The midfielder, however, said he was happy with United.

"Do I look sad?" He said and then smiled. "No.

"Yes I'm happy, I'm happy to wear the shirt, I'm really happy to come back to Manchester United [after leaving in 2012] wearing this shirt, 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. "

In the summer, Pogba won the highest honor in football as part of France's triumphs against the World Cup. At the World Cup, he won four championship titles in Italy. Yet, United has not managed to win the title in the last two years 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 hope we will win something. As a football player, that's why we play. The goal is the goal, as is the FA Cup and the Champions League.

"But we're still here, always on the way – the season is long and we know we have not started the best way but it's 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 also return to the Champions League. 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 still waiting more and more [people] expect better from us. We are making progress and can always do better, but I am satisfied with my performance and what we have achieved over the past two years. "

United is second in group H with four points, five points behind Juventus. If they lose at the Allianz stadium on Wednesday night, the Italian club will be confirmed winner of the group. However, Mourinho said that United would retain his second qualification in the last two games, even if he was defeated.

"Tomorrow is a big game and is big enough not to think of what's next," he 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 matches 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 participate, 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 to play and we can still qualify. "