Man Utd show Mino Raiola they CAN do it without Paul Pogba as Scott McTominay stars
WHAT must Paul Pogba and his outspoken agent Mino Raiola be thinking now?
Despite starring at Sheffield United on Thursday night, the French World Cup winner was left on the bench for the Leeds match.
There are many Manchester United fans who believe they are a better side without Pogba in their engine room.
And the way Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men performed in a blistering all round performance will only add weight to that theory.
There were two goals apiece for two of the midfielders picked ahead of him – Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes – as United enjoyed their best win of the season.
So when Raiola talks about wanting to move his £89 million client on in the near future, it will hardly set alarm bells ringing around Old Trafford right now.
Solskjaer likes the partnership of McTominay and Fred – particularly the extra protection it gives his back four.
And nobody can deny that Fernandes is the main man at Old Trafford these days.
If all those three play in the biggest games, where does Pogba fit in?
Possibly in a diamond – but that leaves them short of width.
They all played in an underwhelming Manchester derby here just eight days earlier – but the manager opted to go for a different plan.
And as he celebrated his second anniversary in charge of United, you have to say Solskjaer got his selection spot on for this Roses battle.
His team was full of running from the word go and the team who have looked a shadow of themselves at home recently were suddenly enjoying themselves.
McTominay became the first Premier League player ever to score two goals inside the first three minutes of a game.
As well as his goals, the Scotland international gave a performance full of the energy and desire that was lacking against City.
The Red Devils scored as many goals inside the first 20 minutes than they did in their previous six Premier League home games this season. Three.
United ended up scoring six – it’s no exaggeration to say it could have been double figures.
Maybe Pogba can take heart from the fact that Leeds could have had five themselves.
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And with McTominay coming off in stoppage time with a groin problem, it might not be long before his chance comes again.
There was little else to cheer up the former Juventus man – he didn’t even get off the bench when Solskjaer decided to make changes.
He would have had plenty of time to contemplate how United don’t rely on him nearly as much as his agent likes to think.
If he does stay, he might find himself watching from the bench more often.
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