Neymar inspiration for spotkick shuffle

UNITED supporters with long memories will have recognised Paul Pogba’s run-up for his penalty against Leicester on Friday night.

In March 2011, the Reds’ academy team were 2-0 down in their FA Youth Cup quarter-final with Liverpool at Anfield when they earned a penalty in front of the Kop.

Pogba, on the verge of turning 18, stepped up, casually shuffled towards the ball and feinted before he converted the spotkick. Only the referee chalked off the goal and flourished a second yellow card and hence a red at Pogba.

Larnell Cole slotted in the retake and Ravel Morrison’s double sealed a comeback.

Pogba opted for the technique on international duty in the 2013 Under-20 World Cup, too, sending the Uruguay goalkeeper the wrong way as France won the final shoot-out 4-1 three years before Pogba clinched the World Cup.

He studied Neymar’s stop-start penalty technique ahead of the Liverpool tie seven-and-a-half years ago and, such was his confidence, was prepared to put it into practice in front of 12,000 people, including Sir Alex Ferguson.

Alexis Sanchez demanded to take United’s spotkick on Friday but has only scored three of his eight career penalties, whereas Pogba’s record stands at four in five.

“The thinking is he is a very good penalty taker and likes the responsibility of it and he is first choice,” Mourinho explained. “The run[-up] doesn’t matter, what matters is the quality and intensity.

“Schmeichel goes to the same side and goes to the same corner but he had no wings to arrive there.”