Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says Jose Mourinho was too critical of Paul Pogba in public.

Rooney, who now plays for MLS outfit DC United, believes Mourinho lost out on his feud with Pogba because he was too critical of the midfielder's performances.

"I think with Paul, I watched him come through the academy at United and he's got a lot of ability," Rooney said, speaking to ESPN.

"If you don't have a good relationship with the coach, then it's difficult to be at your top if you feel like the coach is scrutinising every decision you make, every pass you make.

"Paul Pogba will give the ball away, he'll try passes [and] it won't be the right pass at times.

"But you have to let him do that because two or three of them passes will create goals, will create opportunities.

"I think he found it difficult under Mourinho.

"I think a player and a manager with big egos clashed and the outcome was never going to be great."