Paul Pogba’s return can propel Manchester United to a top four finish
Paul Pogba may be set to leave Manchester United this summer, but he can help his team lock up a top four Premier League finish this season.
Manchester United are locked in a tense battle to secure Champions League football next season. The return of Paul Pogba to the pitch should be enough to propel Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team to a top four finish.
Pogba’s long-term future at Old Trafford may be shrouded in mystery, but that shouldn’t have a massive effect on his play in the immediate future. According to ESPN, the talented midfielder is expected to return to first team training this week. He has been out of action since Dec. 26th with an ankle injury.
It’s hard to overstate the potential impact that can have on United’s current form. The good news for Pogba and company is that no club looks ready to seize a top four spot by the scruff of the neck. United’s erratic form still finds them just three points behind Chelsea for the No. 4 spot in the Premier League table. In other words, any team that finds a good patch of form down the stretch should be able to rocket up the standings.
Pogba isn’t a perfect player, but he is one of the most talented players in Europe. He’ll give United a much-needed injection of injury and creativity in the middle of the park. It will be particularly interesting to see how Pogba works with new signing Bruno Fernandes. The former Sporting star is quickly becoming a cult hero at Old Trafford after a series of quality displays in the attacking midfield.
The key for Pogba will be to pick and choose his spots. It’s imperative that he give Fernandes enough room to operate just behind the striker. That doesn’t mean Pogba should take a back seat to Fernandes, but it does mean that he should take up a position deeper in the midfield. It’s even possible that Pogba could thrive playing behind Fernandes in Solksjaer’s starting XI. It’s easy to forget just how good the Frenchman was in that capacity during his time at Juventus.
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Don’t expect other Premier League managers or fans to spend any time feeling sorry for United over the tactical challenge of playing Fernandes and Pogba together. Everyone understands just how productive Pogba can be when he’s playing at his highest level. If he comes anywhere close to that for United this season, then Solskjaer’s club will enjoy Champions League football next year with or without Pogba’s presence in the squad.