In the build-up to Manchester United's clash with Sevilla there was one narrative that was stood out above all; Paul Pogba's future at the club.
The French man wasn't started by Mourinho, the Portugese opting for the Scott McTominay in midfield, though the former Juventus man entered the fray after an injury to Ander Herrera in the first half.
In the RTÉ studio Damien Duff and Liam Brady were both unanimous in their thoughts about the £89 million pound man; that it's not working for him at Manchester United.
Brady stated that while Pogba is skilled, his penchant for the spectacular is his downfall and that Mourinho shouldn't be load him with as much defensive responsibility:
Everything about Pogba is instinctive but he'll let you down because he'll do daft things giving the ball away trying to be flash, showboating.
For me he's given him too much responsibility he's played in midfield with Matic and he'll let you down time and time again. He's a big powerful lad that needs to be given a free role.
Brady then summed up his thoughts in a Carlos Carvalhal style analogy:
I'm not sure if he's a player you can build a team around. I think he's the icing on the cake, but you need the ingredients in the cake first.
Then it was Duff's turn to evaluate the footballer. mentioning how much Mourinho values trust in his first eleven and suggesting the United midfielder cannot be trusted due to his defensive lapses:
He doesn't have that defensive mindset, he doesn't smell danger and he gives away goals. An alarming thing for me is top players, if they make a mistake, they won't make it again, probably in their career. The goals he gives away, people always running off him, he hasn't grasped it. He's had Allegri, he's had Conte, he's had Mourinho three amazing, top coaches and if he hasn't grasped that by now I think he's 25 in a couple of weeks... that's worrying for me.
I think he has world class ability, but he is not a world class player because he'll let you down.
There seems to be such a wave of negative sentiment surrounding Pogba, and Mourinho's omission of the Frenchman from the starting eleven does nothing to calm the media storm surrounding their relationship.
Perhaps the freedom needed for Pogba to flourish is too far removed from Mourinho's tactical, well-drilled, defensive mindset. But as the season inches towards the business end, and United continue to falter, compromises will need to be made.
