Manchester United: Is Paul Pogba captain material?


REUTERS/Carl Recine

Jose Mourinho today confirmed that Antonio Valencia will be his club captain for the coming season. The recently retired Michael Carrick was the official skipper last campaign but hardly played, meaning the armband was shared with Valencia, 32, normally wearing it.

The move sees World Cup winner Paul Pogba overlooked for a share of the Old Trafford responsibility with his boss failing to mention him in a list of six potential captaincy candidates, despite a key role in France's victorious summer tournament.

The captain was Valencia last season. I think he's going to be the captain and when he doesn't play we have to make decisions. It depends on who is on the pitch if Chris Smalling is, if Ashley Young is, if Ander Herrera is or Juan Mata is. If they are on the pitch we have an option - Mourinho on the captaincy.

Footage recently emerged of an inspired Pogba giving a motivational team talk to his French teammates at the Luzhniki Stadium before they went out and beat Croatia 4-2. 

Pogba's rallying cry was more emotional than tactical, urging his country to get the job done for their families – after France lost the Euro 2016 final to Portugal on home soil. The former Juventus man also gave a half-time speech in the last-16 win over Uruguay.

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