After much speculation that the relationship between Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his most expensive player Paul Pogba was uneasy, there was no doubt that all was not well on the training ground on Wednesday morning.
Mourinho clearly took Pogba aback with a comment on the morning after the night when United had been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Derby County.
Pogba had not played as he was rested for that game but an Instagram video had clearly irked the manager.
How this plays out long-term will be interesting but Leeds United and Ireland legend John Giles is on Mourinho's side when it comes to the latest dispute because the manager should not be in the shadow of a player.
"The manager has to be in charge. You can't have a player in charge of the situation," he said on Thursday Night Football with John Giles.
"I'd be on Mourinho's side in this particular disagreement. The manager has to be in charge, there's no doubt about that. I've never seen a successful team where one player is going to be the most important player.
Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool talks to Xherdan Shaqiri of Liverpool after the Carabao Cup Third Round match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool. Picture date 26th September 2018. Picture credit should read: Simon Bellis/Sportimage/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA(Credit Image: © Simon Bellis/CSM/Sipa USA)
"The manager has to be in charge of a group of players and to be fair to Mourinho, in all the clubs he's been, he's been in charge of that situation."
John was also critical of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's conduct at full time after they lost to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night in regards to the way he berated Xherdan Shaqiri publicly on the pitch.
"I don't think it's ever right in any circumstances to criticise a player publicly," he said, also expressing his bemusement about Klopp's presence on the pitch after games rather than heading down to the dressing room to hug, criticise or deal with his players there.
