[Sport] Manchester United: What next for David de Gea and Paul Pogba?

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Paul Pogba delivered a moment worthy of a packed house and loud acclaim - but it was still of great significance for Manchester United even though it came amid the empty seats and echoing atmosphere of Tottenham Hotspur's vast new home.

 

 

The 27-year-old France World Cup winner is Manchester United's great enigma, richly talented but wildly inconsistent and often appearing to be lurking near the Old Trafford exit.

And yet the sleight of foot he showed nine minutes from time, shifting the ball from left to right in an instant and tempting Eric Dier to bundle him clumsily to the ground, was the decisive moment in United earning a point that may yet be crucial in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's pursuit of Champions League football next season.

The fact the resulting penalty was put away with confidence by Bruno Fernandes, equalising Steven Bergwijn's first-half effort in this 1-1 draw, only added another layer to the puzzle Solskjaer must now solve.

 

• Keane "sick to death" of David de Gea
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• Bergwijn stars: How you rated the players

 

 

In fact, as Solskjaer left north London after his and United's first experience of domestic football behind closed doors, the latest step in the Premier League's 'Project Restart' amid the coronavirus pandemic, he had two key questions to mull over.

 

 

The first centres on how he can achieve the right balance, and in Pogba's case press the right buttons, to establish a mouth-watering and highly potent partnership with Fernandes.

The second is to reflect on yet another example of the uncertainty and errors that continue to grip goalkeeper David de Gea's game.

 

Let's deal with Pogba first.

 

 

Make no mistake, there is a world-class talent locked in this tall and powerful figure, but previous inconsistencies and the general noise around him mean a note of caution must always accompany any suggestion that he is on the point of finally cracking it on a consistent basis at United.

What no-one can doubt is his ability.

If his work to win the penalty was clever, a half-volley right-foot pass hit over long distance to find Marcus Rashford with five minutes left was a work of genius.

It certainly met with the approval of those fortunate few of us gathered in the giant arena on the latest night of 'the new normal', when Seven Sisters Road and Tottenham High Road were no longer the throng of thousands of fans and a cacophony of noise they normally become when Spurs are at home.

 

 

Pogba demonstrated the difference he can make when introduced as a 63rd-minute substitute, if not exactly transforming a previously listless United then at least giving them impetus, threat and drive.

These games may be played in front of 300 people or even fewer in the remaining weeks of this season but the stakes are high amid the eerie silence.

 

They certainly were here for both United and Spurs.

 

 

 

Edited June 21, 2020 by Dr.Drako
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