it’s all luk-ing up for united now
THE FRENCHMAN MAY HAVE SECURED HIS FA CUP SEMI-FINAL PLACE THANKS TO THE BIG BELGIAN
IF Paul Pogba has done enough to convince Jose Mourinho he deserves a place in Saturday’s FA Cup semi final, he will have one man to thank.
It wasn’t until the introduction of Romelu Lukaku as the game entered the final half-hour at the Vitality Stadium that the United midfielder came to life.
Finally he had a focus – a target to aim for.
Releasing Lukaku in the 70th minute after a driving run, the Belgian ruthlessly fired past Asmir Begovic to secure a 2-0 win against Bournemouth – and just maybe Pogba’s place at Wembley.
The inclusion of the £89m midfielder felt like an audition.
Mourinho – who has well and truly brought United’s record signing down to earth in recent months – effectively issued him a challenge.
Prove you deserve your place or face the humbling experience of the bench as United bid to reach a third major final in two years.
Pogba was nothing like as abject as he was in the woeful defeat to West Brom on Sunday. But nor did he look like player who was once the most expensive footballer on the planet.
Mourinho doesn’t demand world class performances every week from a player he accepts is still developing.
But he expects so much more than Pogba has produced since the turn of the year.
His second-half match-winning display against City was evidence of what he can produce when fully focused.
But such performances have been few and far between in a season when he has been overshadowed by so many of his peers in the Premier League.
It will hurt Pogba if he is left out against Tottenham on Saturday – but that contribution to Lukaku’s strike might just be telling.
With Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard ahead of him before that, too often he failed to find the killer ball. A step-over here, a drag-back there, was symptomatic of United’s failure to attack with pace.
While he played a part in Chris Smalling’s opener after 28 minutes – a slick move that also involved Ander Herrera and Lingard – his failure to control the game was notable.
It wasn’t until Lukaku’s introduction that the lights seemed to switch on.
A run towards the box forced a free kick on the edge of the area almost as soon as Lukaku provided a buffer to keep Bournemouth’s defenders’ occupied.
That chance came and went – but it was moments later that Pogba burst forward from midfield and laid off the perfect pass to his good friend.
Lukaku applied the finish – and victory was secured.
By making seven changes to his starting line up against Bournemouth, Mourinho was making a statement.
For those involved on the south coast, it was a chance to force their way into his plans for Tottenham – maybe beyond.
For many left out, it was a reminder of the fragility of their positions.
Mourinho is desperate for a strong finish to the campaign to emphasise his insistence that United are in the ascendancy under him. The title race may be over – but there is no excuse to let the campaign end with a whimper.
A 23rd victory of the season moved them a step closer to their highest finish post Sir Alex Ferguson. It may also have moved Pogba closer to redemption.
WEMBLEY STARTERS WERE CHOSEN BEFORE THE GAME
JOSE Mourinho’s XI at Bournemouth was always bound to spark debate before a ball had been kicked after his weekend comments. Mourinho opined some underperformers had played their way out of his FA Cup semifinal team following the woeful West Brom defeat and he made eight changes at the Vitality Stadium.
Some of those ‘dropped’ were undoubtedly rested. Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku sat on the bench or in the stands and can be assured of starting berths at Wembley. Captain David de Gea can, too, with the injured Sergio Romero unlikely to recover in time.
UNITED HAVE A NEW WEMBLEY STARTER
Ander Herrera began the game by scolding Chris Smalling for not offering to take the ball off De Gea and moments later Phil Jones waved him away and ignored the Spaniard’s presence inside the United third. The hyperactive Herrera was affronted by the unwillingness of United’s centre-halves to play out from the back, although if Mourinho had wanted that he would have started Bailly and or Victor Lindelof. Herrera was United’s outstanding performer before his incisive pass breached the Bournemouth defence and allowed Jesse Lingard to assist Smalling. On a night he was overlooked as captain, Herrera acted like one.
POGBA COMES ALIVE
PAUL Pogba earned a pat on the back from Mourinho and his withdrawal late on, like Herrera’s, suggested Pogba would keep his place in United’s season-defining match in the capital.
It seemed unlikely Pogba would earn the honour of a ‘rest’ in the first half. He was tidy and serene, yet lackadaisical and hardly effected the United attack. That changed in the second period, where Steve Cook was fortunate to avoid a red card for maliciously upending the United midfielder, who recovered to burst into the opponent’s half again and assist Lukaku’s clincher.