Pogba shines in Oslo win
THE search may be over.
Nemanja Matic may well be anointed Michael Carrick’s long-term heir, but Paul Pogba could prove United’s next skipper.
This was as good as a home game for the France star and his team-mates as they beat Valerenga 3-0 in front of a sea of red at the Ullevaal Stadion.
As the rain poured down pre-match, and the Smiths, the Verve and the Stone Roses screeched out of the PA system, it felt like you were on Sir Matt Busby Way.
The days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ronny Johnsen and Henning Berg feel a lifetime ago, but a new generation is embracing all things United. And much of that is down to Paul Pogba. Taking a stroll down Ruseløkkveien hours before kick-off, there was only one name and number on the back of shirts. Pogba. 6.
Finally, they got the chance to see the superstar in the flesh and he did not disappoint with an impressive all-action display in the heart of the midfield.
This was an audience who were in the palm of his hand – applauding every raking crossfield pass and even clapping to a drum beat for his free-kick run up.
He may have hit the woodwork, again, with that wicked first-half effort, but you get the feeling that Pogba’s luck has long changed.
That has been a common theme in recent months – Pogba is finally looking at home again in the red shirt.
The thought of him striking the upright nine times this season is unimaginable; he is thriving in a new role under Jose Mourinho as the team’s talisman.
Revelling in a free role on the left of United’s three-man midfield, Pogba was everywhere - coming deep, breaking into the box and even throwing in a slide tackle for good measure.
The France international has cut down on the needless tricks and flicks, too, and tellingly, when he went for one, it came off: a sumptuous Zidane pirouette past his marker midway through the first-half.
Although he failed to get on the scoresheet, a quarter of an hour as United’s skipper in the second-half hinted at what is to come for the world record transfer holder. United may have their future skipper. And that will set the tone for their approach this season - this team is firmly being built in Pogba’s image following the £75m addition of Romelu Lukaku.
The approach of Valerenga, fit and halfway through their domestic season, hinted at what United will again encounter next season.
Weaker sides happy to sit deep and soak up pressure, but United had an answer this time - with Fellaini, Lukaku and the impressive Scott McTominay breaking through.
Yes, it was only pre-season, but there was a marked change in United’s approach – no aimless long balls to Marcus Rashford or Fellaini. And Pogba is one of the main reasons why.