Jose Mourinho will not drop Paul Pogba despite his turbulent week at Manchester United, though he has reminded his midfielder that no player is bigger than the club.
The United manager insisted that his relationship with Pogba is "good" and confirmed that the midfielder will play in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against West Ham United.
However, Mourinho refused to expand on his decision to strip Pogba of the vice-captaincy earlier this week and played down a training ground spat between the pair which was caught by television cameras.
At his press conference to preview the trip to West Ham, Mourinho said that Pogba had impressed in training and would play on Saturday.
"He's a player like the others," the United manager said. "No player is bigger than the club and if I'm happy with his work he plays. If I'm not happy he doesn't play.
"I'm happy with his work this week, really happy. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday especially because today was not so significant but he trained really well.
"The team needs good players, players with personality to play, he has and he plays tomorrow."
When asked whether he felt the tension between him and Pogba risked damaging the club's reputation, Mourinho reiterated: "Manchester United is bigger than anyone and I have to defend that."
Pogba's thinly-veiled criticism of Mourinho's approach to last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers resulted in the 25-year-old being stripped of the club's vice-captaincy.
Mourinho subsequently 'rested' Pogba for Tuesday's shock EFL Cup defeat to Derby County and the following day, the pair shared a tense exchange at United's Carrington training ground in front of Sky Sports cameras.
The United manager believed Pogba had made light of United's defeat in an Instagram video posted after the final whistle, though it later emerged that the recording had been made during the game and Old Trafford's patchy Wi-Fi network had delayed its publication.
Mourinho insisted his relationship with Pogba is 'good' and refused to discuss the Instagram incident in detail, dismissing it as nothing out of the ordinary.
"I think for you was amazing because you made a story, an incredible story out of 15 minutes of open training session. Maybe is [the United press office's] fault," he said.
"We should have 15 minutes of training session open because what happened the other day happens many days. Conversations with players I have many many many times, was not the case but loud critic, loud instruction happens every day.
"Coaching is about that but you make story about it, so I'm happy the rules are only 15 minutes once a month and situations like that are not going to change, there is no chance you will watch a session."
