The 2020/21 Premier League season has started poorly for Paul Pogba and Manchester United. The Frenchman began the season by testing positive for COVID-19 and was dragged off after 67 minutes in the defeat at home against Crystal Palace.
On the weekend, Pogba conceded a needless penalty against Arsenal to gift the visitors maximum points. It was a disappointing challenge and speaking after the match, Pogba said, “I felt like I touched him a bit, I knew I was in the box, I shouldn’t have given a penalty away like that”, before continuing, “Maybe I was a bit out of breath, it made me do this stupid mistake. I will learn from that, I’m not the best defensively in the box, I can work on that.”
2️⃣ out of 2️⃣💥 Great team performance 🙌🏾 #UCL pic.twitter.com/yceCrQddhB— Paul Pogba (@paulpogba) October 28, 2020
2️⃣ out of 2️⃣💥 Great team performance 🙌🏾 #UCL pic.twitter.com/yceCrQddhB
It was the third penalty Pogba has conceded in the Premier League during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management at Old Trafford and raises the question, what is next for the World Cup winner in terms of his role in the team?
Under the guidance of previous Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, Pogba was asked to play as one of two central midfielders. However, rather than having a licence to attack, Pogba anchored the midfield alongside a holding player, such as Marouane Fellaini.
It was a tough ask from a player who enjoys getting forward and into attacking positions rather than sitting deep and breaking up the play.
When Solskjaer arrived, it appeared as though Pogba had been relieved of his previous defensive responsibility. He often played with two other players in central midfield and this gave Pogba the freedom to move into the attacking third, both with and without the ball.
During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Pogba played alongside N'Golo Kante in central midfield but also had cover from Blaise Matuidi, who operated from the left. This allowed Pogba to move forward feely and he had a huge role to play in the success of the French team at that tournament. There is no doubt, when fit, Pogba is a regular in the French national team and one of the players they rely on during qualifying and in tournaments.
Going back to Pogba’s days at Juventus, the Frenchman often played at the tip of a diamond midfield. Pogba was at his best when tucked in behind the strikers.
This is currently a role performed by Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United and it appears as though Solskjaer is not tempted to move Fernandes into a different position to move Pogba further forward in the team.
By having the licence to roam at Juventus, Pogba would often appear on the left side during attacking phases and that is where he completed much of his best work. He did not start on the left side of an attacking three, which is where Pogba ended up playing in the latter stages of Manchester United’s defeat against Arsenal.
In terms of Premier League performances, time is running out for Solskjaer and maybe now is the opportunity to play Pogba at the tip of a diamond four in midfield.