Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho was pleased to see the public and media turning on Paul Pogba earlier this season, it has been claimed.

The Manchester Evening News says Mourinho and Pogba's relationship soured throughout the Portuguese's tenure at Old Trafford and was ultimately left irreparable prior to the self-styled Special One's dismissal in December.

Pogba was stripped of the vice-captaincy by Mourinho earlier this season before their bust-up was laid bare by television cameras at United's training ground.

A hostile stand-off between the duo was captured in late September after Pogba had posted on Instagram after the Red Devils' defeat to Derby in the Carabao Cup.

And Mourinho was 'satisfied' by the negative media reports aimed in the direction of Pogba.

But the midfielder has enjoyed a new lease of life under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, helping the Red Devils back into the top four.