For all the front and bravado, Pogba just needed to feel loved
PAUL POGBA’S resurgence shows that he always needed an arm around him. Conflict is never a good backdrop at any football club and it certainly wasn’t working for Paul under Jose Mourinho. Indeed, conflict wasn’t working for any of the players at Manchester United. Paul had a large slice of it, but he wasn’t alone in taking the brunt and it was inevitable that the managerial change was made.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knew Paul from working as United’s reserve-team coach years ago and quickly identified that for all the front and bravado, if you like, Paul needed an arm around him and reassurance that he was still valued.
As a result, Paul is looking like the world- class player we thought we’d signed from Juventus, and Manchester United are a better team.
His touch and pass for Marcus Rashford’s winner against Tottenham was the piece of skill that made the difference.
Don’t get me wrong, a worldclass goalkeeping performance from David de Gea was the bedrock and Rashford’s finish was excellent, but that special moment from Pogba won the game. In the top games, top players make the difference.
Paul has an edge about him but all top players need that to survive. I believe his temperament is excellent when you consider what he takes.
Graeme Souness criticised his challenge on Dele Alli, saying Paul knew what he was doing, but I don’t think it was premeditated. It’s difficult in the speed of that action to avoid contact when you step over the ball.
Graeme had an edge to him — he was one of the worst. I had it and Alli has it, too. You have to look after yourself in these games and be physical when it’s required but not to hurt anyone on purpose. I don’t believe that was Paul’s intention.
I’ve spoken before about how Sir Alex Ferguson and Mike Phelan used to get Paul Scholes to kick lumps out of Pogba in training years ago and I’d say, ‘Woah, aren’t you going to stop that?’ They’d let it go because it was schooling him in what was to come. Erik Lamela took a few chunks out of Paul before that flashpoint with Alli. Tottenham knew what they were doing. Paul is making United tick, so he’s naturally a target for the opposition. Ole has brought a freedom to his play. At one point he rampaged forward through a couple of tackles and nearly got a second goal. One of my friends said it reminded him of my goal for England against Holland in Euro 88. I scored though, Paul’s not quite as good as me yet! Joking aside, he is benefiting from being allowed to express himself in a more advanced area of the pitch and key to that is the role played by Ander Herrera. I love the energy Herrera brings. He works the park both ways, a little bit like Patrick Vieira used to do at Arsenal, and his discipline alongside Nemanja Matic enables Paul free rein to do his best. When I saw Paul last week in Dubai with the United squad, I had a little chat and congratulated him on the birth of his baby. He just seemed so relaxed and easy with things. Ole’s knowledge of the person Paul is has helped make him feel loved again. Some world- class players need that. It’s hard for others to understand that you can have all the adulation in the world but if you don’t have it from the people that matter around you, you don’t perform. Paul has that now and United look a different proposition for it.