He has Paul the cards POG LOVE-IN IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR OLE
THE charm offensive Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been dedicating to Paul Pogba is as transparent as it is justified.
But these are desperate times indeed, so the Manchester United boss can be forgiven for bending over backwards to make sure Pogba is made to feel as loved as possible in these coming weeks.
Jose Mourinho failed to do this when he was in the Old Trafford hotseat and look how that turned out? Mourinho might have won the odd battle but Pogba won the war. Now the World Cup winner finds himself locked in another game of poker with United over where his future lies – and once again he appears to hold all the aces.
All it took was a fantastic cameo appearance from the French enigma in United’s 1-1 draw at Tottenham to remind the world of football just how talented and frustrating he is.
Just ask Eric Dier. The Spurs defender was left with twisted blood and little choice but to haul him down to concede a late penalty, after Pogba turned him inside out with a flash of brilliance that earned United a point on Friday night. But this wasn’t the moment of the match.
Several minutes later, Pogba struck a sumptuous, long-range ball to Marcus Rashford that was the work of genius. It might just go down as the pass of the season.
Watching from the TV studio was pundit Roy Keane, who appeared to make a seamless switch from lockdown to meltdown with a ridiculous, one-man assassination of David De
Gea, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire for their roles in the Spurs goal.
Keane has become the Howard Stern of punditry but he got one thing right when admitting that Pogba remains a wonderful talent who deserves to be showcasing his skills on the biggest stages.
In less than 30 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Pogba looked like someone who cared. He showed commitment, passion and drive, he wanted the ball and when Bruno Fernandes (above) equalised from the spot, clenched both fists in celebration like a man whose heart was invested in United.
Yet there is always an asterisk next to the name Pogba. His previous inconsistencies and the general noise around him mean a note of caution must always accompany any claim he is close to cracking the code that allows someone to make Old Trafford their home.
Here’s where United come in. Pogba has technically entered the final 12 months of his current deal and while club bosses have the option to extend it until June 2022, it has not been taken.
Doing this would muzzle his outspoken agent Mino Raiola – for a while at least – and prove United don’t want to sell him. Failing to extend his contract, however, would allow the speculation to continue and suggest that a sizeable bid might finally persuade the fallen giants to cut their losses.
Solskjaer’s job between now and the end of the season is to persuade Pogba, 27, that what should be the peak years of his career can be fulfilled at United.
The talent of Fernandes should prove a significant help – and it is Solskjaer’s job to devise a midfield plan that accommodates both of them.
Fernandes hasn’t been signed to replace Pogba, he’s been signed to complement him – and make no mistake, United still need the World Cup winner.
The question is, does Pogba need them?