'Pogba's mum wants a draw!' - Mourinho on United v Saint-Etienne family affair

Dom Farrell

'Pogba's mum wants a draw!' - Mourinho on United v Saint-Etienne family affair image

Jose Mourinho hopes to upset one of his star midfielder's guiding influences when Manchester United host Saint-Etienne in the Europa League on Thursday.

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The Portuguese's famous will to win will be undimmed at Old Trafford, but Paul Pogba's mother Yeo Moriba is angling for a draw.

This is due to the presence of Pogba's older brother Florentin in the Saint-Etienne squad, with the prospect of a sibling rivalry unfolding at one of European football's most celebrated stadiums capturing the imagination during the pre-match build-up.

Mourinho did not confirm the younger Pogba would start the match, with United's hectic schedule taking in an FA Cup assignment at Blackburn Rovers and the EFL Cup final against Southampton before the month is out, but he was visibly charmed by a feel-good narrative.

"We [Mourinho and Paul Pogba] spoke but we spoke in a good way, a funny way," he told a pre-match news conference.

"I think it's a good, nice destiny. I think only Mum Pogba is in a little bit of trouble, which is normal.

"It is difficult for the lady to choose… not difficult, impossible.

"I know from Paul that the mum wants a draw but next week one son will be happy and another one will be sad.

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"Only for the mum is it a little bit of problem, for them I think they will enjoy playing against each other.

"Paul is excited, Florentin for sure the same. So it is a good thing."

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.