Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed Paul Pogba’s versatility as questions remain about what role brings the best out of the mercurial Frenchman.
Pogba has been dogged by criticism that he needs specific players around him to unlock his best qualities, rather than being able to dominate a midfield on his own.
Since making Pogba their club-record signing in 2016, United have spent over £80million recruiting first Nemanja Matic and then Fred as players who could control games and allow Pogba the freedom to play his best.
But the 26-year-old, who won the World Cup last year playing in a two-man midfield alongside N’Golo Kante having previously said his best position is on the left of a midfield three, still struggles to produce his best on a consistent basis.
He is in the midst of his most productive club season, with 16 goals and 10 assists, and Solskjaer says Pogba’s ability to play in different systems is a huge asset.
“Everyone has got an opinion on Paul,” said Solskjaer, as reported by Goal. “And of course, together with Paul, we have sat down and discussed his positioning.
“We know he can play as a ten or a six, we know he can play in probably his preferred position as one of the three in midfield — high, like he did for us at the beginning, like he has done with Juventus.
“With France he has played as one of the two sitters, or one of the two central midfielders with N’Golo Kante.
“So that is the great thing with Paul. He can do both and what we have to do with all the players is adjust to the games, what that game needs.
“Some games have needed Paul to drop back, sometimes it has needed him high up the field.
“You can see teams now thinking more about what Paul’s position is and trying to stop him in that position. He is no different to others in that we tweak his position a little bit for the team’s benefit.”
