We have far more belief now, says pumped-up Pogba
PAUL POGB A believes Manchester United are “more confident” than last season after another clinical performance.
Eric Bailly gave United the lead in the first half before three late goals from Romelu Lukaku, Pogba and Anthony Martial secured the win.
France midfielder Pogba said: “We are more confident, we know each other more. Now is the second year.
“The first year we had the first year of the manager and he changed the team. It’s not easy, but we still won trophies.
“This season we are more confident, everybody knows each other and we work for each other and it’s easier for us.
“We had a very good result, 4- 0 again, a clean sheet. We hope we can carry on like this.”
After last weekend’s win against West Ham, this was another powerful message, and Jose Mourinho was pleased to see United play with such conviction.
He said: “The team was confident from the first minute. We had a period in the first half when they created chances from the set-piece, but the game was under control. We were very calm.”
Strong and efficient at the back, United shut down their opponents, who were woefully short of attacking prowess following the club- record sale of Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton.
Last season’s top scorer Fernando Llorente also remains absent with a fractured arm.
Clement said: “We were punished. We became too open defensively. They are so strong in those positions and we played right into their hands. It became very harsh on us.
“The first step is we don’t let the result affect our confidence. We have to make sure we regroup.”
Swansea’s only gripe was that Pogba remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as, with the game goalless in the first half, he escaped a second yellow card for a similar foul to one which he had previously earned him a booking.
United were unchanged from the side which had thumped West Ham, but it was Swansea who created the first chance inside three minutes when Jordan Ayew charged down Bailly’s attempted clearance and advanced down the left.
Only Ayew will know if his scooped effort was an attempt on goal, but it appeared to bamboozle David de Gea, who saw the ball bounce to safety off the crossbar.
United also hit the woodwork seven minutes later when Phil Jones headed Juan Mata’s free-kick against the crossbar, but, in truth, he should have done better.
The pattern of the game was set with United probing around the edges of the Swansea penalty area and the hosts keen to counter quickly through the pace of Ayew and Tammy Abraham.
The problem for United was that they were failing to create chances and were getting frustrated.
Marcus Rashford clearly felt he was not being afforded enough protection and his dissent led to referee Jonathan Moss having a few words with the England striker.
Pogba was booked for felling Tom Carroll and was fortunate that Moss erred on the side of leniency when he upended Martin Olsson on the half-hour mark.
United should have been ahead when Alfie Mawson’s mistake gave Rashford a clear run at goal after 36 minutes.
The teenager steadied himself, but the finish was weak, and Lukasz Fabianski gathered comfortably.
Mat a prodded wide after Fabianski had failed to collect under pressure, but United were ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Pogba met Daley Blind’s corner with a bullet header to bring a brilliant save out of Fabianski, who tipped the ball onto the bar.
But Fabianski was out of luck as Bailly was the first to react and prod the ball home for his first goal in English football.
United’s sent on Marouane Fellaini and Anthony Martial for Mata and Rashford, as Pogba whistled over a free- kick from 20 yards.
It proved a Mourinho masterstroke as 10 minutes from time , substitute Martial kept his feet and Henrikh Mkhitaryan played in summer signing Lukaku for his third United goal in two games.
Two minutes later Pogba broke through and finished with a clever chip, before Martial slid in the fourth to boost United’s goal difference.