Pogba, Matic up with United’s best centre pairings: Scholes
RED DEVILS LEGEND SAYS MATIC ALLOWS POGBA GREATER FREEDOM
he midfield combination of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic could be as good as any seen at Manchester United, according to Paul Scholes, who was legendary for his association with Roy Keane at Old Trafford.
Matic arrived from Chelsea for £40 million (Dh197.6 million) over the summer to sit alongside Pogba, who was the subject of much criticism for his slow start since joining from Juventus for a then world record £89 million transfer fee last season.
Scholes now tips Pogba — who has been out for the past two weeks with a hamstring — to fully settle in and start delivering thanks to Matic’s arrival, but can they be as good as together as Scholes and Keane once were?
“It wasn’t just me and Roy,” said Scholes, 42, who is in Dubai playing for the Bengaluru Royals in the Premier Futsal finals at Dubai’s Al Wasl this week.
“There were other people as well, it was in abundance really, and now they’ve got the same kind of squad with Ander Herrara and Michael Carrick both not getting a game.
“I think they can mix and match, but for now it looks like it’s going to be Matic and Pogba, when he’s back fit, and that midfield should be as good as any.
“I think he’s done quite well so far this season,” Scholes added of Pogba. “Obviously before his injury the team were winning, and winning quite comfortably, and I think the addition of Matic has helped give him that freedom.
“He’s scored a couple of goals already [two] and got a couple of assists [two], he’s been playing well, so hopefully that injury is not as serious as it could be. I think they were talking about a possible operation. I hope that’s not [the] case and that he’ll be back soon.”
Tough year
Asked about criticism levelled at Pogba last season, Scholes, who scored 107 in 499 appearances for United between 1993 and 2013, added: “It was a little bit of a tough year, not for the club, they won a couple of trophies, but leaguewise it was always going to be a settling in period for him.
“Two or three other players along with him took time to settle down and that’s always going to be the case.
“With Matic this year and three or four others being a year down the road, I think we’ll begin to see the improvement.”
Manchester City are just ahead of United on goal difference at the top of Premier League table after six games.
Romelu Lukaku, who joined United from Everton for £75 million over the summer, has so far scored six goals and tops the scoring list with City’s Sergio Aguero, but can he continue to keep pace with the Argentine?
“I don’t see why not,” replied Scholes, who won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies in 20-years at Old Trafford.
“Both equally get a lot of chances now they are in teams that create a lot of chances. Both have pace in their side and I think it will probably come down to who can be better defensively, and concede less goals.
“I don’t think either side has really been tested yet against a top team.”