The recent struggles of Paul Pogba seem to be coming to a head as reports on Thursday suggested the Manchester United player is unhappy with his role in Jose Mourinho‘s side, with some going as far as to say that the relationship between player and manager has broken down completely.
While such speculation should be taken with a grain of salt – this is the first time Pogba has had such a severe dip in form and he’s bound to be unhappy in the midst of that – there’s no doubt the 24-year-old has cut a sulking figure in recent weeks, failing to find his stunning form from earlier this season.
What exactly is going on with the mercurial midfielder?
Here are three takeaways from the supposed impasse between Pogba and Mourinho.
FIRST CARROT, NOW STICK
This is the first time the two have had any sort of conflict since the Frenchman joined in the summer of 2016. There were times last season when fans and pundits were saying Pogba deserved to be dropped, but Mourinho protected his record signing from criticism.
The recent developments, which have seen the United No6 subbed off twice in two games while the team were chasing a result and dropped to the bench for the home game with Huddersfield, could just be a different way to motivate him.
Mourinho’s spent a year-and-a-half giving Pogba the carrot – guaranteed selection, praise at every opportunity, and support against critics. It worked as Pogba, whose struggles last season were overblown, hit top form this early on this term. Now, it’s time to try the stick.
Pogba and Mourinho are reportedly not seeing eye-to-eye.
BETTER SUITED TO A THREE?
At the heart of Pogba’s complaints seem to be his struggles to properly be integrated into the system at United. Mourinho’s preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, and he’s earmarked one of the two midfield spots for the Frenchman.
Pogba, however, came to United on the back of four glorious years at Juventus where he was part of a midfield three, and he burnished his reputation as one of the world’s best young midfielders based on his form in that system.
Indeed, even at United, while there have been plenty of standout performances alongside just one midfield partner – especially earlier this season, playing next to Nemanja Matic – Pogba has looked better as part of a three-man midfield.
United’s mini-resurgence in the previous campaign came with Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera next to him, and this season he’s at times looked a completely different player as either an out-and-out No10 with two midfielders behind him, or as the most advanced of a three-man midfield. It’s clear that this is the role which he finds most comfortable playing in.
Pogba has had his best games as part of a midfield three.
MOURINHO HAS LONG-TERM GAINS IN MIND
Mourinho should be aware that Pogba, and consequently the team, has had the most success in a midfield three. But the manager’s desire to keep playing him in a two-man midfield isn’t just a case of sticking to a rigid system.
He has played variations of 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 plenty of times over the last two seasons, along with Pogba’s preferred 4-3-3. It isn’t simply a case of a dogmatically defensive manager using an attacking player in a more withdrawn role either.
But there are long-term benefits to both Pogba and Mourinho by sticking to the 4-2-3-1. Firstly, it allows the manager to play four attackers plus Pogba, giving Mourinho the balance of five attacking and five defensive players.
More importantly, this is part of Pogba’s footballing education. A central midfielder who’s comfortable both in a midfield two or three is more valuable than someone who can play effectively only in one system. A Pogba who is both explosive in attack and disciplined in defence is the best version of himself.
Mourinho knows best: Is it a case of short-term pain, long-term gain for Pogba?
