Jose Mourinho cut a defiant figure in the aftermath of Manchester United’s shock exit at the hands of Derby County in the Carabao Cup and continued to assert that there were no issues between him and star midfielder Paul Pogba despite stripping him of vice-captaincy.

Frank Lampard, a midfielder who excelled under Mourinho during their time together at Chelsea, masterminded Derby’s penalty shootout win to deepen the crisis engulfing Old Trafford.

“I made the decision for Paul not to be the second captain anymore, but there is no fall-out, no problems at all. The same person that decides that Paul is not the second captain anymore was exactly the same person that decides that Paul was the second captain – myself. I am the manager, I can make these decisions,” Mourinho told his post-match presser.

The Portuguese manager had reportedly told his United squad on Monday that as long as he’s in charge, Pogba will never captain the club again.

“No fall-out at all, no problems at all. Just one decision that I don’t have to explain,” added the Portuguese tactician.

So far, the talented Frenchman has been handed in the armband three times this season. Those fixtures came when regular skipper Antonio Valencia was unavailable due to injury.

With Mino Raiola, Pogba’s outspoken agent, pushing for a move to Barcelona all summer, Mourinho’s relationship with the club-record signing has frayed in recent months.

And according to a report in the Daily Mail, Pogba told his manager that he wants to move to the Nou Camp in January, prompting Mourinho to strip him off the captaincy.

The central midfielder was afforded a rest as United hosted the Rams on Tuesday night and was in the stands as his teammates struggled to get going against lower-league opposition.

Something of a prima donna, Pogba is equally to blame as is Mourinho in this whole saga.

His ability to win matches has never been in question but the fact that the club have only found success in the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League suggests consistency has been lacking and it has.

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Too often the powerful midfielder goes missing in matches and his post-match comments, in which he’s been critical of the team’s timid approach, haven’t  gone down well with the fans or the manager.

He’s not necessarily been saying the wrong thing, as after a 1-1 draw with Wolves, he lamented his side’s inability to attack and kill off the game at Old Trafford.

However, a player of his stature, with a eye-watering wage to boot, should shoulder the responsibility especially when playing a position as crucial as central midfield.

At this point in time, unless there’s a dramatic kiss and make up behind the scenes, both player and manager seem destined for an exit by the time the season comes to an end in May.

Much has been made of Mourinho’s third-season syndrome and it appears to be coming true, one way or another.

And it looks like with their relationship breaking down, the club management will have to sanction the sale of Pogba in January to prevent the morale in the squad from worsening.

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The Red Devils paid a then-world record fee of £86 million in 2016 to get Pogba back from Juventus and it appears that their money wasn’t well spent for they are unlikely to get much return on their investment once the winter window reopens.

For now, make do with cryptic Instagram posts/tweets by Pogba as he’s effectively gagged due to his contract with respect to blowing the lid while Raiola is likely to kick up storm with his incendiary comments, as most agents with vested interests do these days.

On the pitch, the World Cup winner should let his feet do the talking and carry this underperforming  United side by the scruff of their necks and challenge the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool instead of just coasting on his talent.