Sanchez, Pogba dropped as Mourinho seeks United backlash

MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho left Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba on the bench for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at home to Brighton as the Portuguese seeks a reaction to Tuesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla.

Mourinho was heavily criticised for his cautious approach in losing 2-1 to the Spaniards at Old Trafford, provoking a lengthy 12-minute rant at his pre-match press conference on Friday defending his record since joining United in 2016.

And Mourinho matched his words with action by dropping Sanchez, who had been an ever-present since joining from Arsenal in January on reportedly the most lucrative contract in Premier League history.

However, the Chilean has finally paid for a run of poor performances having scored just once in 10 games in a United shirt.

Pogba, by contrast, has had to get used to life on the sidelines in recent months despite his £89 million ($124 million) price tag when United brought him back to the club from Juventus in 2016 for a then world record fee.

The French international is again overlooked in favour of 21-year-old Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay.

Mourinho makes five changes in all from the side that started against Sevilla in midweek with Sergio Romero, Luke Shaw, McTominay, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial replacing David de Gea, Ashley Young, Marouane Felliani, Sanchez and Marcus Rashford.