‘Biggest game in the world’
THE sight of Paul Pogba discarded on the subs’ bench at Anfield in December, as Liverpool shredded Manchester United, summed up for fans the folly of Jose Mourinho’s reign.
With United still in the game at 1-1 at half-time, Mourinho brought on Marouane Fellaini instead of Pogba, and Liverpool turned the match into a turkey shoot as they won it 3-1.
Two days later, Mourinho, who was trying to drive Pogba out, was sacked, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived and the transformation in the France midfielder from pariah to messiah has been remarkable.
Solskjaer, who first coached Pogba as United’s reserveteam boss, built his team around him, like he had advised Mourinho to do.
Pogba has scored nine goals and made six assists in his 12 games under Solskjaer, compared to just five goals and four assists in 20 matches this season under Mourinho.
He is the heartbeat of Solskjaer’s side and the Norwegian claims he is the best player in the world in his position. “There are different types of his midfielder but, in his mould, I don’t think there’s anyone near his physical presence,” said United’s caretaker boss.
“He can score goals, he’s got great close technique, the diving header he scored against Chelsea was fantastic.
“He did the same against Bournemouth, when he ran from the halfway line to get into the box.
“But he can also spray passes when he’s in midfield. I don’t think that’s his best position, but he can do that as well.”
Solskjaer felt it was a no-brainer to unleash Pogba (with the Reds boss, above) in his best position as an attacking midfielder.
“He’s a top, top player, who I’ve liked ever since I saw him as a kid,” Solskjaer said. “He’s a World Cup winner, a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch as well. He wants the ball all the time.
“So my idea was to get him playing to the best of his abilities as an attacking midfielder. You saw Paris Saint-Germain man-mark him, other teams will too. “I don’t know if Liverpool will but, if they do, he will have experienced that, and it creates space for others.” The turnaround in Pogba personifies United’s transformation under Solskjaer and, since the low of that Anfield humbling, they have won 11 and drawn one of their 13 matches. United fans are desperate to atone for that humiliation when the sides collide at Old Trafford tomorrow, but Solskjaer has told his players to take out the emotion.
“I played in a few of these games myself and know the magnitude of it for the fans and everyone who works here,” he added.
“It’s our job to be focused and to channel all that energy into performance mode when we start the game on Sunday.
“It’s not about emotions. I understand emotion can be brought into it, but we have to stay focused and controlled.” FROM BACK PAGE
United against Liverpool is one of the biggest games in world football. We have to prepare for that and still play a game,” he said.
“I think we are in really good shape, to be honest. We had our little problems, two, three weeks ago, when we drew twice.
“But we have a chance to play an outstanding last period of the season, with one of the most difficult games as the start of that.
“We have to be ready for all of them. Now it is a really big one, I know that, I respect that. You think it is only a big game for United?
“If you go in our dressing room, they are all long enough here (to understand how big it is).”
People are already suggesting this is the pivotal moment in Liverpool’s title quest, with defeat leaving Manchester City on top. But Klopp dismisses that argument.
He added: “If we would see it like a lot of people see it, that it is THE game, that is too much pressure on everybody.
“You cannot do it like that. I don’t think about losing the game but, if we do, then we are still level on points with Man City.
“That is the worst thing that can happen.
“Yes, we have to be 100 per cent ready to have a chance there (at Old Trafford). But if we are 100 per cent ready, then we have a chance there – we are strong enough that they have to respect us as well.”
Reds manager Klopp has Virgil van Dijk back from suspension, but Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez are both still out.