Man Utd star Paul Pogba reveals he suffered depression under Jose Mourinho
Posted by  badge Boss on Mar 23, 2022 - 02:49PM
Mourinho and Pogba
Paul Pogba fell out of favour under Jose Mourinho (Picture: Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

has opened up on his mental health struggles by revealing he has suffered with depression ‘many times’ during his career, including when was in charge of .

The midfielder has endured plenty of difficult spells at Old Trafford since completing his £89m move from to United in 2016.

The Frenchman went through a tricky period on and off the pitch under Mourinho’s leadership that saw him stripped of the vice-captaincy by the Portuguese in September 2018 as their relationship turned sour.

‘I’ve experienced depression many times in my career, but you don’t talk about it,’ he told .

‘Sometimes you don’t know who you are, you just want to isolate yourself, be alone. These are unmistakable signs.

‘Personally, it started when I was with Jose Mourinho at United. You ask yourself questions, you wonder if you are at fault because you have never experienced these moments in your life.

‘All top athletes go through these moments but few talk about it. Inevitably, you will feel it [depression] in your body, in your head, and you may have a month, even a year, where you are not well. But you don’t have to say it. In any case publicly.

Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba
Jose Mourinho stripped Paul Pogba of the vice captaincy role during his time in charge (Picture: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

‘We earn a lot of money and we don’t complain really, but that doesn’t prevent us from going through moments that are more difficult than others, like everyone else in life.’

Despite winning three trophies under Mourinho in their debut campaign together their relationship deteriorated with the former Chelsea boss being sacked in December 2018.

Pogba has struggled for confidence in large periods of his time with the Red Devils and his future at the club remains uncertain.

The 29-year-old is out of contract in the summer and is yet to make a decision on whether he’ll sign a new deal or take up interest from the likes of PSG and Real Madrid.

His latest comments suggest his time in Manchester could soon be coming to an end though as he seeks more trophies in his career.

‘You have to be honest, these last five seasons have not satisfied me — really not at all. This year is dead, we won’t win anything. Whether it’s with Manchester United or another club, I want to win trophies,’ he added.

‘It’s simple with France, I play and I play in my position — I know my role and I feel the confidence of the coach and the players. It’s normal to feel a difference at Manchester United because it’s hard to be consistent when you often have a change to your position, or the team system, or your [midfield] partners.

‘I get along very well with [France manager Didier Deschamps], he gave me a role that I know — but at Manchester United do I really have a role? I ask the question, but I don’t have an answer.’

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