Paul Pogba claimed he was not allowed to talk after Manchester United’s poor run continued against Valencia.
Old Trafford was under the spotlight on Tuesday as Jose Mourinho tried to get a tune out of a side that had failed to win their three previous matches.
However, the under-fire manager saw his side toil to a 0-0 Champions League draw against Valencia to boos at the final whistle.
Many players avoided the post-match mixed zone interview area to avoid awkward questions after their fourth successive match without a win.
Pogba was among those to go through as required by UEFA regulations, only to tell reporters “I’ve been told I’m not allowed (to talk).”
The 25-year-old has been speaking more in the opening weeks of the season than the previous two seasons combined.
Pogba said he would be fined if he opened up about his happiness after beating Leicester in the curtain-raiser, then appeared to get under Mourinho’s skin by saying United should “attack, attack, attack” after drawing with Wolves.
The midfielder, strongly linked to Barcelona, was soon stripped of captaincy duties, before having a tense, and public, training ground conversation with the manager over his social media during the Carabao Cup exit to Derby.
Pogba returned to the side in Saturday’s 3-1 loss at West Ham, but was withdrawn after 70 minutes following a poor performance.
“You want me dead?” he said, apparently playfully, when asked by journalists for comment after that match.
United will look for a much-needed win before the international break when Newcastle arrive at Old Trafford in the Premier League this Saturday.
Odds on Mourinho leaving the club continue to shorten after their worst start to a league campaign in 29 years.
