POGBA BLOWS BLUES AWAY
‘Beautiful win’ for United as Sarri’s time looks over at troubled Stamford Bridge
PAUL POGBA led Manchester United into the FA Cup quarter-finals last night with an assist and a goal and said: “It is a beautiful win.”
United piled the pressure on Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri as they scored twice in the first half and were then drawn away to Wolves in the last eight.
After their 4-1 defeat of Newport on Saturday, Premier League champions Manchester City will go back to Wales to face Swansea, Watford will meet Crystal Palace and Millwall face Brighton.
Less than a week after their 2-0 home defeat by Paris SaintGermain in the Champions League, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s
first loss as manager, United responded in the perfect style, inspired by the quality of Pogba.
His cross in the 31st minute was met on the far post by Ander Herrera, who powered home a header before Pogba himself scored the second on the stroke of half-time.
“Today was a great performance from the team, all of them,” said Pogba.
“It wasn’t easy. We did it. We are really pleased. The team helped me get to my best. I give everything for them. They help me score goals and get assists. We are enjoying playing together.
“We are Man Utd. We play to win trophies. He [Solskjaer] took this job because he can do it. He trusts us and we trust him.”
Chelsea beat United 1-0 at Wembley last May to lift the trophy but there was no comeback from Sarri’s side in the first of four matches which could decide his future.
Solskjaer, whose team won 3-1 at Arsenal in the previous round, said: “The performance tonight was fantastic. Our tactics worked. We asked our midfielders to press higher and get into the box and it worked. The defending in the second half was fantastic.
“It is a massive result. We had criticism after the PSG game and everyone did what we asked them tonight.”
Chelsea forward Pedro said: “It was a big opportunity for us to stay with the supporters but now it is a difficult situation. It was a difficult day for us.
“We have to believe in ourselves and this team.”