Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup in a penalty shoot-out to Derby with Pogba watching from the stands.
Pogba was omitted from the squad due to rest according to Mourinho but his absence came after he was told he would never skipper the team again.
Mourinho is understood to have made the brutal declaration in front of the rest of Pogba’s stunned team-mates before their defeat to Derby.
The United boss is furious with Pogba’s attitude but he gave a different take after the dramatic shoot-out.
“The only truth is that I made the decision of Paul not to be the second captain anymore,” Mourinho told Sky Sports.
“But no fall-out. No problems at all.
“The same person that decides Paul is not 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, no fall-out at all, no problems at all, just one decision that I don’t have to explain.”
Pogba’s position is now in serious doubt and there is a distinct possibility he could leave the club in January.
Express Sport understands the World Cup winner is interested in a return to Juventus, from whom United signed him.
While Barcelona have been credited with strong interest in snapping him up following the departure of Andres Iniesta.
The latest development in the Pogba saga came before United kicked off against Frank Lampard’s Derby side at Old Trafford.
The home side got off to a great start when Juan Mata finished off a fine move involving Anthony Martial, Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard.
But Derby threatened throughout and got an equaliser in the second half when on-loan Liverpool winger Harry Wilson scored a brilliant free-kick from distance which completed deceived United goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
The game then took a dramatic twist when United were reduced to 10 men after Romero handled the ball outside the box.
And Derby went ahead when Jack Marriott nodded in from close range after United’s substitute keeper Lee Grant failed to deal with a shot from outside the box.
But in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Marouane Fellaini headed home at the back post to take the game into penalties.
Players from both teams emphatically scored the first 15 penalties but Phil Jones made it a night to forget for Mourinho when his effort was saved by Scott Carson.
Lampard told Sky Sports: “I’m shell-shocked. What a performance. To go down early at Old Trafford and play as well as they did was superb. We had the personality to take penalties and play the way we did. I am a proud manager.
“It was the easiest selection I have had, the players were superb against Brentford and they deserved the chance to play at Old Trafford. I wanted to bring a team who could really compete. I am so proud of them.
“I am trying to build a group to be successful and nights like this are incredible. To go against world-class players and play that way, it’s right up there.”
