Young Boys 0-3 Pogba’s Men: Five things learned from as the Man Utd captain leads by example

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Manchester United got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start by thrashing Young Boys 3-0.

The Red Devils weren’t particularly fluid, but their captain stood up and punched his side into a lead, and from there Mourinho’s men managed to control the game (sort of) and get a colossal victory. What did we learn?

1. Paul Pogba is the main man

Fresh from his brilliant showing at the weekend, Paul Pogba made a very clear statement of intent with his first performance in this season’s Champions League. The man who José Mourinho dropped for Scott McTominay back when United were eliminated by Sevilla in February was in fine fettle against Young Boys tonight.

Pogba did whatever he wanted to against the Swiss side, including taking his sweet time to get going. He didn’t start well as United on the whole looked sloppy, but once he found his feet he promptly knocked Young Boys off theirs. Pogba began spraying the ball around the pitch with an almost impossible accuracy, and constantly driving his side forward when he has possession.

The opening goal was pure inspiration from the Frenchman, as he ran forward to collect the ball after Martial had miscontrolled it. Pogba shifted the ball to his left and then, with no backlift, hammered the thing into the back of the net. For the second goal he took one of those penalties with the agonisingly long run-up that makes you certain they’re going to miss. And then for the final goal it was again Pogba, marauding through Young Boys midfield before laying it perfectly into the path of Anthony Martial.

There’s no doubt about it, Paul Pogba is the main man.

2. Diogo Dalot looks legit

Manchester United have limped along without a proper right-back since David Moyes dismissed Rafael da Silva in his first season. Antonio Valencia has filled in impressively but he is very obviously not an elite nor potentially elite force out there.

Diogo Dalot was signed without much fanfare this summer, and yet he delivered the kind of powerful display that Manchester United fans have been dreaming of since even before Rafael’s time, back to Wes Brown and John O’Shea putting in consecutive dominant seasons at the position in 2008 and 2009.

Dalot was genuinely impressive in a way young defenders on their debut don’t tend to be. Apart from one moment when he literally slipped up, Dalot was assured in the tackle, worked hard defensively and was a constant outlet on the right, surging forward with great confidence and sending tasty crosses into the box – including one hell of a curler in stoppage time that Lukaku scored from (but was ruled out for offside).

Obviously it’s early yet, but Dalot was so brilliant that one can see him challenging Antonio Valencia for a starting spit straight away.

3. 4-3-3 isn’t the way

Manchester United have turned their season around with a 4-3-1-2 shape, using a midfield diamond and the movement of Jesse Lingard to ignite their attack (and cover for their lack of wingers). Against Young Boys, Mourinho reverted to 4-3-3 and the old problems reared their heads yet again.

Sure, Pogba was great, but both Anthony Martial and particularly Marcus Rashford struggled with their designated roles as wingers. Neither man is a winger, obviously, and it often blunted the United attack because they weren’t in the right positions, or controlled the ball poorly and made poor decisions in possession.

United need to find a way to rotate their attack without abandoning the 4-3-1-2 diamond shape that allows their best players to thrive. Until they sign at least one winger, United need to avoid 4-3-3 if they want to create a stable system of play.

4. Martial FC rides again!

Anthony Martial came into this game having not scored for Manchester United since January. Part of that is his own fault, making poor decisions with the ball and being hesitant instead of decisive. But then a bigger part of it is the way he has been treated by manager José Mourinho; often overly criticised and dropped for the smallest of “mistakes.”

But tonight, even though he got the start and managed to avoid the short straw shunting him to right-wing (poor Rashford), Martial didn’t really look at it. He was slow on the ball and although he dribbled well, he didn’t seem like he was going to take his chance to impress José Mourinho. But then, with subs getting ready to come on, Martial received a pass from Pogba and stuffed the ball goalward. He got a lucky deflection (imagine! Martial getting lucky!) and the ball went into the back of the net.

The Frenchman careened away, celebrating mightily. He then got to stay on whilst Rashford had to go off, and now he will definitely be in contention to start at the weekend (although Alexis Sánchez may return to the starting XI). Still, for tonight Martial FC rides again!

5. United’s unprotected defence

It’s great for Manchester United to start their Champions League campaign with a win, but this performance should not be immediately considered a good one just because of the result. Sure, United deserved the win but there were enormous flaws on display that will be forgotten, but they shouldn’t be because a better side will expose them.

United were so open, pretty much all game long the Swiss side were running directly at the United defence. Nemanja Matic offered no protection and only once Marouane Fellaini came on did the Red Devils look capable of actually protecting their back four. Before the tall Belgian came on, United were under a huge amount of pressure.

Of course, it was Young Boys. So Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof and David de Gea had enough amongst them to see off the threat. But United’s next games are against Valencia and Juventus; and if they play with this kind of open-ness against those high-powered attacks? They’ll get slaughtered. Work to be done for José!

The post Young Boys 0-3 Pogba’s Men: Five things learned from as the Man Utd captain leads by example appeared first on Squawka News.



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