CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Pogba takes the armband and the World Cup winner leads by example to lift Jose’s spirits
IT feels like the Premier League has never been away.
Paul Pogba doing his best to upstage Jose Mourinho and Manchester United grinding out a hard-fought rather than spectacular victory at Old Trafford.
David De Gea making match winning saves, United getting an all-important penalty decision and a ripple of frustration from the home fans as their side struggled to kill off the opposition.
It was of course the Pogba show, his early penalty proving he craves the spotlight as the wrestled the ball away from Alexis Sanchez.
The France star had two stars shaved into his new haircut to celebrate France’s second World Cup win, in which he played such a big role.
Luke Shaw’s first-ever senior goal (right) ensured the three points went to the Reds, even if Jamie Vardy’s late goal gave the home supporters a scare.
But it was hardly the riproaring stuff that the United fans crave. We should learn not to be surprised by anything Mourinho does, but after a turbulent week even by The Special One’s standards, Pogba’s selection still raised eyebrows.
After all, he only returned to training on Monday after his summer heroics in Russia.
Since scoring in the final four weeks ago, Barcelona have made a move for Pogba, Mourinho has had a public whinge about a lack of transfers and faced serious questions as to why he does not seem to have been able to get the best out of a player who is a world beater on the international stage.
So, in typical Mourinho fashion, Pogba was not just rushed back into the starting line-up but also given the captain’s armband in Antonio Valencia’s absence.
If that was a clear message from Mourinho, then Pogba sent an even louder one with his rip-roaring start.
United were ahead after just three minutes, referee Andre Marriner showed little hesitation when he gave a penalty after Sanchez’s shot hit Leicester full-back Daniel Amartey’s outstretched arm. Up stepped Pogba with a stuttering yet super confident run-up before the United midfielder smashed the ball into the roof of the net to give Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel no chance.
It was a dream start for Mourinho’s men but they did not have it all their own way as Leicester’s £20million new boy James Maddison was a real handful going forward, forcing United keeper De Gea into a terrific diving save.
Pogba looked powerful in midfield but Marcus Rashford, with England boss Gareth Southgate watching from the stands, looked sluggish up front and United looked vulnerable at the back. United have got no chance of making real progress while they tread water with Matteo Darmian still struggling at right-back, admittedly with Valencia out injured.
Italian misfit Darmian was horribly exposed by Demarai Gray’s pace and Kelechi Iheanacho’s movement.
Leicester never gave up as Claude Pull threw on Jamie Vardy and Rachid Ghezzal as second-half substitutes.
And the Foxes knew the game was up when Shaw shocked them, and probably himself, by finding the net.
De Gea made a brilliant stop to deny Gray. Vardy then blasted a close-range volley high over the top in injury-time, Leicester’s clearest view at goal.
Seconds later he found the target from close range after Ricardo’s cross came back off the far post.
It was hardly a thriller at Old Trafford but, ultimately, United got the job done while Leicester showed promising signs but the jury is out as to whether Puel can still take them forward.