DOES THE BOSS LOOK HAPPY WITH YOU, PAUL?
Flash of class seals it for United but the soap opera rolls on
PAUL POGBA gave an impressive display in Manchester United’s win at Bournemouth last night, but still appeared to be at odds with manager Jose Mourinho.
The £89million club record buy was taken off after 80 minutes — the seventh time he has been subbed this season — despite having had a hand in both United’s goals.
As Pogba approached the bench, Mourinho motioned for him to sit down before applauding. Instead, Pogba headed for the tunnel after shaking hands with some of the backroom staff. He was quickly called back and took his place behind Mourinho.
BT Sport made him man of the match, with pundit and United legend Paul Scholes saying: ‘If he carries on playing like that there shouldn’t be a better player in world football.’
FOR five seconds he looked worth the hassle. Sometimes five seconds is all Paul Pogba needs. Make no mistake, Manchester United were under the pump here before their second goal, before Pogba moved into top gear and took this beyond Bournemouth, who had penalty shouts and near misses in search of an equaliser.
When Pogba picked up loose possession a few yards into his own half with 20 minutes to go, this was always going to be over in a flash. Imposing and brutish, the Frenchman reminded Jose Mourinho what he is about, carrying the ball 40 yards and shrugging off anyone who might want to try to block his path.
Suddenly Pogba, his future in so much doubt, was in shooting range. Now it was about choosing the right option and he did, slipping in the rushing Romelu Lukaku. The weight of pass was perfect, Lukaku clipping past Asmir Begovic and with that United effectively sealed Champions League qualification next season. And it offers Mourinho serious food for thought before the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham on Saturday. He and Pogba are having difficulties at the moment but this performance — a positive response to being told to get his act together — should see him in that team.
Mourinho even clapped Pogba off, albeit unconvincingly as he remained in his seat. The manager frowned for the majority of this contest, but will accept this was about as good as he could have expected given seven changes and the overwhelming feeling of disenchantment at the moment.
The Manchester United manager claimed last night that those who pay their hard-earned money to watch United are Old Trafford are ‘confused’ by his ‘message’. He joked that Dwight Yorke was the only attacking player he didn’t throw on as they spluttered to defeat with just four shots on target against relegation-bound West Bromwich on Sunday.
The real message emanating from Mourinho right now, and it has been the same for the last 18 months, is that United are a team that takes one step forward and two back. His comments here were yet another example of him shooting wildly from the hip; if his players had showed that sort of attacking aggression then perhaps United would not have arrived on the south coast 30 goals behind Manchester City.
More generally, what of the message Mourinho sent to his players? Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian were in from the cold, lacking sharpness in areas of the pitch Eddie Howe consistently looks to exploit with speedy wingers.
Typically Ryan Fraser exploited that a little on Bournemouth’s left, although Shaw acquitted himself admirably on the other side.
Bournemouth started the brighter. Callum Wilson nipped beyond Phil Jones, featuring for the first time since early February, only for Jordon Ibe to then drag his shot wide of David de Gea’s right-hand post. Simon Francis saw a shot blocked. United were being turned over in midfield early on, Pogba guilty of forcing the issue on occasion, mirroring Sunday’s debacle.
Paul Scholes was still sore about that before this match. Pogba, by his reckoning, ‘disrespected’ Mourinho with a display of selfishness and only consistency will sway public opinion. United gathered themselves, looking more potent when breaking, and went ahead after 28 minutes.
Marcus Rashford tenaciously chased down Nathan Ake out wide, forcing Begovic into completing the first save of the game. From that corner the ball broke to Jesse Lingard, to Pogba, Lingard and then Ander Herrera. United suddenly had an edge. Suddenly there was movement.
Lingard intelligently darted clear, demanding the ball. Herrera delivered neatly between defenders and from there United were in, Lingard sliding across the six-yard box for Chris Smalling to tap in.
Rashford and Lingard are so often the bright sparks and seem to enjoy a telepathic relationship. Lingard’s precise ball to Rashford, splitting defenders as a result of the striker’s clever run, showcased their danger. Mourinho could do worse than to play on that relationship if his true goal is to entertain.
United had grown stronger, playing with more dexterity on the break, but Wilson was incensed at the denial of what he deemed a penalty after Shaw tugged him when the striker looked like planting Josh King’s devilish centre past De Gea.
From there Howe’s side wanted to make this a helter-skelter ride, upping the intensity and bombarding the visitors.
Herrera stemmed the tide and did his case for inclusion at Wembley no harm, biting into tackles and breaking up play in a way which defies the dawdling nature of United’s recent displays.
As for Pogba, the midfielder’s rampaging run before laying on to Lukaku served as a timely reminder of what Mourinho would be giving up if he lets him go. BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-1-1): Begovic 5.5; Francis 6, S Cook 5.5, Ake 7, Daniels 5.5; Fraser 6, L Cook 6.5, Surman 6 (Gosling 75min), Ibe 5.5 (Mousset 56, 6); King 5 (Defoe 83); Wilson 5.5. Subs not used: Boruc, Pugh, Arter, Simpson. Scorers: None. Booked: L Cook, S Cook, Surman. Manager: Eddie Howe 5.5. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-3-3): De Gea 6.5; Darmian 6, Smalling 7, Jones 7, Shaw 6; Fellaini 5, HERRERA 7.5 (Matic 72, 6), Pogba 7 (Blind 80); Lingard 6.5 (Lukaku 62, 6.5), Rashford 7, Martial 6.5. Subs not used: Pereira, Bailly, Young, Sanchez. Scorers: Smalling 28, Lukaku 70. Booked: Smalling. Manager: Jose Mourinho 7. Referee: Graham Scott 6. Attendance: 10,952.