POGBA’S SHOW OF DEFIANCE
United get the job done as record buy steals the show
MANCHESTER UNITED players had their jobs to do last night – despite the tragic events 48 hours earlier.
And the employee who cost the ‘company’ the most money, world record £89m signing Paul Pogba, proved he was ready to put in a shift.
The France midfielder was buzzing from the off and could have scored in the first minute.
But he did give United fans coming to terms with the suicide bombing in the city a massive boost in this by claiming the first goal – albeit a very lucky one – in the 18th minute.
Delight
There was further delight in the 48th minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan claimed a second for United.
Pogba’s opener might have even been his second.
With 24 seconds gone, and following a mix-up between Ajax keeper Andre Onana and Joel Veltman, Pogba had a decent chance to half-volley a goal, but his effort went wide.
In the 10th minute a superb flick by Marcus Rashford sent Juan Mata to the byline and Marouane Fellaini was agonisingly close to being able to head his driven cross home.
The first shot on target came in the 15th minute from Ajax’s Bertrand Traore, on loan from Chelsea, set up by Amin Younes.
It was no challenge for United keeper Sergio Romero to deal with, though, as it was high and too close.
Pogba struck after he found himself in some space central just outside the box, from a pass from Fellaini.
His shot was almost certainly going to be kept out by Onana until it struck the left knee of centre-back Davinson Sanchez and changed course, leaving the keeper stranded.
The ball went down the middle of his goal while the keeper flung himself to his left. It was the third goal of this year from 24-year-old Pogba and by far the
most vital of the nine in total he has scored for the Reds since rejoining from Juventus last summer.
Not only did it help claim the only European trophy United had never one, it earned the Champions League place that Jose Mourinho had banked everything on.
Skipper Antonio Valencia showed sizzling pace to surge past Jairo Riedewald and smash a shot from a tight angle which Onana could only beat away.
Left-back Riedewald then sent over a cross which went all the way across goal, missing Younes and young strikers Kasper Dolberg and Traore.
Rashford almost capitalised on hesitation just outside his box from Sanchez but the Colombian recovered just in time.
Matteo Darmian followed team-mate Daley Blind in producing great defending to keep out Traore when the Burkina Faso forward dribbled deep into the United area.
Plan
With boss Mourinho targeting the Europa League a while back as the main route into next season’s Champions League, it was perhaps not surprising his men did not go gung-ho as they set out to execute his plan.
But they did get that vital second goal soon after the restart.
Juan Mata delivered a corner from the right and Chris Smalling did well to head it towards goal. And Mkhitaryan was so sharp.
With his back to goal, he beat the stooping Veltman and hooked into the net to spark wild celebrations on and off the pitch.
It was his sixth goal in 11 appearances in Europe for United.
It also justified Mourinho’s decision to keep the Armenian playmaker on the pitch, despite being booked in the first half as he struggled to contain the runs of Veltman.
In the 68th minute Pogba chipped in a ball just right for Fellaini to meet with his head.
But his effort was too close to Onana and the Belgium midfielder knew he ought to have done better.