Jose Mourinho insists he has no problem with Paul Pogba despite dropping him for Manchester United last week

Pogba was substituted against Tottenham and benched for the following game against Huddersfield

Pogba was heavily criticised for his performance against Tottenham (Getty)

Jose Mourinho has insisted his relationship with Paul Pogba remains strong and hit back at the pundits who have been critical of the French international.

Pogba, 24, has been under intense spotlight since being substituted in United’s recent defeat at Tottenham and left out of the starting line-up for last weekend’s home win over Huddersfield.

A number of former players - including United legend Ryan Giggs - have also been critical of either Pogba’s form or the role he is being asked to play for the club by Mourinho. But the manager insists that criticism, from Giggs in particular, that United are not getting the most of Pogba’s attacking skills are wide of the mark.

“Paul had a very professional behaviour and this week was not different to what Paul is every week,” Mourinho said. “Paul is a good professional, Paul works well, Paul likes to train. I never had one single problem with him regarding his professionalism because he really is a very good trainer, one of the guys who likes to train, enjoys to train.

“In relation to his best position, I had a few laughs over the past week because I heard, I watched, I had a chance to read a few things and I’m not English but I understand English enough to understand when I want to say with ‘box to box.’

“But with some comments from important people in football I got a little bit confused because for me ‘box to box’ means you have to be good in this box, you have to be good on this road and you have to be good in that box.

“It means that you have to defend well in this box, you must have the physical condition, the desire, the intensity, the stamina to go to the other box and in the other box you have to be good - scoring, creating, heading and so on and so on.

“And then when your team loses the ball you have to go to the other box because I think this meaning “box to box” this week I was confused when people say “box to box.”

Pogba was benched against Huddersfield Town (Getty)

“To play free of defensive duties, that’s not “box to box.” That’s a box in the box and stay in the box and doesn’t move from the box!”

​United head to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle on Saturday with Mourinho never having won a league game on Tyneside in six attempts.

Mourinho said: “I don’t know why, I think it’s the only stadium in the Premier League where I have not won - also Huddersfield but I only played there once.

“I think it’s difficult, honestly, I’ve always felt beautiful matches but difficult. I like to go there and like the feeling of going to Mr (Bobby) Robson’s home.

“I like the stadium, I think it’s really nice and the atmosphere. They are good and enthusiastic. I like the Geordies. I lost and drew a few times. I hope the result is different but I know the characteristics of the game are not going to be different.”