BEVERLY HILLS, January 21, (THEWILL) – It was not that long ago that rumours of Paul Pogba’s impending move to several suitors like La Liga defending champions Real Madrid and Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain began circulating at the start of the January transfer window whilst his English Premier League side Manchester United were working hard to keep their momentum going with little help from the 27-year-old Frenchman.
The over-reliance of the squad on the talismanic Bruno Fernandes was bearing heavily on the Portuguese’s shoulders especially when his form was not at a hundred percent. United needed more at a time when they were beginning to shed the lethargic drag of the early season and Solskjaer’s confidence at his job was improving. They needed a performer to push the revival and Pogba answered.
The French midfielder’s performances saw an uptick in positivity that was evident again on Wednesday as his stunning winner proved decisive in their 2-1 comeback victory over relegation-threatened Fulham.
The Red Devils had to shake off an early setback when Ademola Lookman fired the hosts into an early lead after only five minutes as United’s tendency to concede first continued. But, a 25th minute poacher’s leveller from veteran Edinson Cavani and a 25-yard Pogba thunderbolt gave the advantage to Man U to see them move back to the top of the Premier League.
It was the seventh time this season that United have conceded first on the road in the Premier League, as the defence stood there like statues, allowing Lookman in to fire home his third goal of the season for Fulham before the comeback began.
Amidst all the talk in the media about a lacklustre showing from Pogba as implying that the midfielder’s mind was no longer in sync with coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s project in United, the Norwegian manager stood by his French player and refused to be drawn into blaming their poor November-December 2020 form on Pogba.
The height of the slanderous finger-pointing in Pogba’s direction came after the disappointing loss to north London club Arsenal at Old Trafford which broke a long-standing record of not having lost to the Gunners at home in a while. The lone goal victory came from a penalty Pogba caused in a non-threatening senseless challenge. The United faithful asked for his neck and wanted nothing to do with him.
The fickle world of football is such that after the set of brilliant performances Pogba has put in on a good run of games that have taken them to the top of the League and kept them there for upwards of two weeks after tough fixtures like the draw against defending champions Liverpool, and his sensational strike with his weaker foot for victory over Fulham, the host of United fans are the same ones singing Pogba’s praises again.
Still, these fans have cause to be jubilant because after four years of not delivering at the level expected of one so gifted, Pogba is showing what he can do when the chips are down. His overall contribution to the team’s results have been pivotal especially at a time when regular goal scorers like Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Greenwood are not scoring as often.
The possibility exists that he has upped his game to impress potential suitors in the search of a summer move away from Old Trafford, which is debatable. Yet, Pogba has played some of the best football he has ever played in a United shirt in recent times and that is not something anyone in the United corner will fawn about.
Sometime in November of last year, the fixture against Fulham could have resulted in a loss of points for the Red Devils especially with the tight gameplan the hosts adopted and after that early opener. In such ties, except the fiery Rashford or inspired Fernandes turned up, United could offer little as an attacking threat. Every so often they needed something special to turn a potential loss or a one point result into three. They used to often come up short.
Not anymore, as now, agent Pogba means business. His ability to mix up his play and blend more easily with Fernandes in the middle of the park has rejuvenated the whole team. His devastating quality to strike with both feet makes him a constant threat just as his ability to pick out a teammate with a crisp cross. All these have come in handy for United in recent weeks.
Solskjaer will be proud to have kept faith in his Frenchman.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
