This was Pogba at his absolute best... what a shame he is going
IT’S taken five long years, but at least Manchester United now know Paul Pogba’s best position.
Unfortunately for them, it’s in the shop window.
Despite the public protestations of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that all is well with the £89million Frenchman, the bottom line is that Pogba can walk away from Old Trafford for nothing when his contract expires at the end of the season.
For a second time. And if there is something that
United’s owners and Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola have in common, it’s knowing about the bottom line.
Pogba will have his pick of clubs from January.
He’s even in the process of making his own TV commercial to showcase his talents in the guise of an Amazon documentary.
On the opening day of the season, the midfielder was pure box office.
Bruno Fernandes may have proved why he is the new darling of the Stretford End with a hattrick. And Mason Greenwood scored a goal to suggest that even at the tender age of 19, he will be the most natural finisher in Manchester this season even if Harry Kane ends up at City.
But it was Pogba’s promptings that drove United to a victory that was only really in the balance for the four minutes Leeds were level at the start of the second half thanks to Luke Ayling’s spectacular equaliser.
He provided four assists and a brimful of brilliance as Marcelo Bielsa was packed back across the Pennines after an Old Trafford hiding for the second successive season. Pogba should have got on the scoresheet himself when the contest was goalless.
Greenwood sent him clear. But while the first part of Pogba’s attempt to conjure a step-over and shot all in one movement was perfect, he sent the ball wide of Illan Meslier’s post.
Both teams created chances in a furious opening period played in front of a febrile full-house.
But that was the best of the lot – until Pogba’s vision and firsttime pass invited Fernandes to race between Robin Koch and Pascal Struijk to put the home
It was Pogba’s promptings that drove United to a victory that was only really in the balance for the four minutes
Leeds were level at the start of the second half
side ahead on the half-hour. to unleash a strike from 25 yards United had introduced new £41m that tore past David de Gea. signing Raphael Varane to the Leeds’ raucous fans were still fans before kick-off. pogoing in the aisles when
But even the French World Cup Greenwood struck to empty the winner from Real Madrid would dance floor. Pogba guided a pass have been powerless Pogba went off between Greenwood to prevent the strike to a standing and Struijk, and once that brought Leeds ovation 15 the striker turned on level. minutes from time his turbo he was
Ayling last scored clear. against Huddersfield in the The teenager then cut in to Championship 17 months ago. produce a finish of a predator,
But when Stuart Dallas rolled firing a low shot across Meslier the ball into his path two minutes and in off the far post. after the break, he transformed Two minutes later it was all into a right-footed Roberto Carlos over. Fernandes scored again, with the help of Pogba’s pass and goal-line technology after Ayling tried to hack the ball clear.
And the Portuguese collected the match ball with a blistering half-volley finish on the hour from Victor Lindelof ’s raking pass.
United’s dominance was illustrated when Fred marched onto Pogba’s low cross to complete the scoring with a quarter of the game remaining.
The Brazilian didn’t have to break stride to sweep a low left footer past a shell-shocked Meslier. Leeds lost 6-2 at Old Trafford last year – and Bielsa returned to Yorkshire adamant that his team had been more than a match for Solskjaer’s side.
This time, he reckoned they played even better.
But with Kalvin Phillips on the bench following his Euros exertions, Leeds lacked their guiding hand.
When Pogba went off to a standing ovation 15 minutes from time, on came £81m new boy Jadon Sancho.
United fans are right to be excited.