Mourinho's defensive tactics keeping Pogba from expressing himself
Further evidence of a disconnect between Jose Mourinho and Paul Pogba was provided Wednesday at Sevilla. The out-of-form Frenchman came on as a substitute after initially taking a seat on the bench, and although he wasn’t at his worst, he couldn’t really influence the match.
He mostly jogged about the pitch at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, picking his moments to get involved. Whether he was still ill from the weekend or not, Pogba looked disengaged until the final moments of the 0-0 draw. It was as if he was told to restrain himself, to focus on seeing out a scoreless result that United could then build on in the second leg at Old Trafford.
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And therein lies one of the main reasons for Pogba’s struggles. It’s not just a personal problem, it’s down to Mourinho’s tactics. The Portuguese manager prefers soldiers to individual brilliance and defensive responsibility over freedom of expression, and it’s prevented the attack-minded Pogba from truly affecting the play on the pitch.
The same could be said for many of United’s players. Mourinho’s commitment to conservative football has forced the Red Devils to abandon their natural talent and follow a more pragmatic approach.
“If you look at the players they have – (Marcus) Rashford, (Anthony) Martial, (Alexis) Sanchez, (Romelu) Lukaku being backed up by Pogba – wouldn’t that frighten you?” former Arsenal striker Ian Wright told BBC Radio 5 Live. “United should be doing better with the players got (sic) they’ve got. I’m baffled with the sterile football. If I was a United fan, I would be disgusted.”
Every team has to play within a system, and there’s a time and place to line up defensively, but Mourinho seems either unable or unwilling to see his team’s attacking strengths.
His uncompromising devotion to playing not to lose has harmed Pogba’s development the most. The kind of player who thrives on confidence, he has to be allowed to make runs through the heart of midfield and dictate the pace of the game.
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
On Wednesday, he wasn’t allowed to do much of that. Pogba didn’t exactly help himself – he was slow to close down players and easily dispossessed – but he gave a glimpse of what he can do in the last 15 minutes. There was more combination play with Lukaku and Rashford, a few decent turns, and one moment when Pogba found the Belgian forward with a smart overhead pass.
It was as if Mourinho, knowing Sevilla would’ve tired itself out after firing shot after shot, let his players attack once the result looked safe.
Pogba also looked freer when Sanchez went off. The Chilean often encroached on the space Pogba would otherwise inhabit, dropping deep and running into the channels. There’s just not much room for Sanchez and Pogba to co-exist. That’s another tactical imbalance that Mourinho has to solve.
But the Portuguese manager may not care at all about Pogba’s personal growth. He just wants his players to carry out a plan, and those who can’t, such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, will be disposed of. It’s why Mourinho, faced with question after question about Pogba, hugged a reporter who instead asked about Scott McTominay’s workmanlike performance.
“In the press conference, the questions were about Paul, but the question should be about the kid,” Mourinho told BT Sport’s Des Kelly. “He was fantastic. He did everything well. He put pressure on (Ever) Banega and stopped him playing. He’s their playmaker. I think Scott was brilliant.”
McTominay was indeed lively and more willing to press. Responsible for United’s sole shot on target, the youth product was deserving of praise.
But titles aren’t won with a 21-year-old McTominay. It’s with Pogba at his best. And until Mourinho can find a way to tap into his player’s undeniable match-winning talent, it’ll be one colossal waste of time.
