HAPPY RETURNS
POGBA’S BACK TO HIS BEST SAYS OLE AS HE FIRES BOSS TO WINNING COMEBACK
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer believes the old Paul Pogba has returned for United after his matchwinning performance against Huddersfield.
The midfielder, who started just two of Jose Mourinho’s last six games, was recalled for Solskjaer’s first match in caretaker charge last week at Cardiff, where he provided two assists in the 5-1 thrashing.
Yesterday, Pogba scored twice in the 3-1 win over Huddersfield as he finally claimed a first league goal from open play this term.
United supporters voted Pogba, now on seven strikes for the season, man of the match and loudly cheered his name as he left the pitch at fulltime.
The World Cup winner was the last United player to head down the tunnel, gifted his shirt to a supporter and his approval ratings have risen, despite some fans’ unhappiness over his behaviour under Mourinho.
Solskjaer gave Pogba his reserves debut as a 16-year-old in 2009 and said ‘the Paul I know’ has returned to form.
“I’m spending time with the players, of course, and trying to get as much time with each individual as possible,” Solskjaer said.
“And Paul is one that really enjoyed [today], last time he creates two or three goals, this time he score two himself. I think he’ll enjoy this.
“That’s the Paul I know, that’s the Paul I have known since he was in the reserves and the youth team, he’s always been a happy boy, he’s always had a big smile on his face and when you score a goal or two you’re happy.
“And when you play football for Man United you should be happy, it’s a responsibility, but it’s an honour and a privilege.
“And Paul loves playing for this club, he’s a Man United boy through and through, he’s a kid that knows what it means to play for Man United.”
United led Huddersfield 1-0 at half-time but David de Gea prevented Laurent Depoitre from levelling in the 61st minute with an agile save.
Solskjaer conceded the Reds had an edgy spell after the interval and pinpointed areas where they could improve against Sunday’s visitors, Bournemouth.
He said: “Fantastic result, you’re delighted with three points and some of the football was really, really good as well, so you can’t ask for more, three goals at home.
“Or well, I can ask for more, I can ask for a clean sheet, the boys had promised me that soon.
“It took about 20 minutes for us to settle, you’re playing against a team that makes it hard for you, we took maybe too many touches, too slow, we didn’t create enough in the first 20 but after we got the goal we settled down and with a little sharpness towards the end could’ve finished the game off before halftime.
“Then again, the first 10 minutes of the second half we struggled, they really put us under pressure, but for David de Gea’s save I think it would’ve been really, really hard if they got 1-1 that they deserved.
“But when you get the 2-0 you settle down, the confidence growing, the attitude going forward, just need to learn how to slow the game down at times and just play in their half because we didn’t do that enough.”