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Paul Pogba had been in a deep mess right up to the Liverpool game in the middle of December this year. The French midfielder had been poor for most parts and had looked uninspired, and disinterested on the pitch.
Tensions had increased between him and Jose Mourinho and there had been a lot of reports of dissent. This had led to Pogba being relegated to the bench during the last phase of the Portuguese's reign and there were even reports of the midfielder looking for a transfer ahead of the winter transfer window.
All of that changed after the loss to Liverpool, which saw Mourinho exit the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment was like a breath of fresh air for United fans and even though there were some doubts with his appointment, there was a genuine positivity in the club.
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For Paul Pogba, it was a walk through the memory lane, as he had worked under the Norwegian as a teenager when Solskjaer was the reserves team manager. The fact that the Frenchman was happy to see his old boss was evident in the first two games after the change.
Pogba scored two goals and picked up two assists in Solskjaer's perfect start to his new role at Manchester United. The French midfielder now has 7 goals and 6 assists in 22 games in all season so far. In the Premier League, he has 5 goals and 5 assists from 16 games, just 1 shy of his last season's tally of 6 goals.
As such, here are 5 reasons why Pogba has been brilliant under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and will get even better as the season progresses.
#5 A style of play that suits him
Paul Pogba was stifled under the defensive strategies of Jose Mourinho. While the floodgates did open once in a while, Mourinho mostly opted to set his team up in a defensive mode. He preferred rigid players in the middle like Fellaini and had a back four with limited flexibility. This meant that Pogba rarely got the support that he required from his teammates.
Under Solskjaer, the shackles around the Frenchman have been broken for now and Pogba finds himself a part of a team that attacks in unison. This new look Manchester United loves to go forward and this is the strategy that suits Pogba the most.
The defence is a bit higher up on the pitch and everyone is looking to run towards the opposition. This gives Pogba a lot of options and also opens up a lot of room for the Frenchman to weave his magic. He already looks like a world class player again, but as the season progresses, one can expect him to get even better.
#4 Change in position
Under Mourinho, Pogba was mostly a part of the midfield three, but was always withdrawn in his position. This was because of the cautious approach of Mourinho, which failed to bring the best out of the Frenchman. It was a direct result of these tactics that the Portuguese failed to get the best out of Pogba. Even though there were instances when playing Pogba higher up on the field had a greater influence in the game but Mourinho refused to budge.
Solskjaer returned Pogba to his usual position - a part of the middle three with unlimited freedom. This has allowed the Frenchman to do what he is good at - affect the game near the box. Pogba, in turn, has regained his magical touch and his form in an instant.
Even though he starts from the middle, the 25-year-old fulfils a modified No. 10 role that allows him a lot of creative flexibility. This change in position has brought the best out of him so far and under Solskjaer's continued guidance, it is only a matter of time before Pogba unleashes his authority in the league.
#3 Focal point of the team
Every team needs a focal point, a pillar that the team is built around. Paul Pogba is that all important player for Manchester United. He was brought to revive United's fortunes; he was the marquee player, the prodigal son whose return was supposed to reignite Old Trafford. Sadly, that revival never occurred under Mourinho for various reasons.
Solskjaer had repeatedly expressed his desire to build a team around Pogba because he understands what an exceptional talent the Frenchman is. The biggest conclusion from the first two games is that Pogba is the main ingredient of the Norwegian's dream recipe to reinstate Manchester United's authority.
Solskjaer has set his team up around Pogba so far and has included just the right men who will help the French midfielder flourish. He has added marauding full-backs, a runner in the midfield and creative players up front. This has enabled Pogba to assert his influence on the game and all of them have combined well with the Frenchman.
As the team begins to gel together, Pogba will get even better and he will continue to drive United forward.
#2 Change in responsibilities
Many people make the mistake of comparing Pogba to a Yaya Toure or a Patrick Vieira. Even though the Frenchman is a total footballer who can fulfil a lot of roles, Pogba is not a defensive midfielder. His best asset is his attacking prowess. Few players in the world can do things with the ball like the Frenchman.
With the right guidance, Pogba could have already become one of the best midfielders in the world. While Mourinho failed to provide that direction, Solskjaer's appointment has been just what is required for Pogba.
The Norwegian immediately changed the responsibilities entrusted to the Frenchman. He was no longer expected to track back every ball, as was the case before. He was encouraged to shoot and to try and do something out of the ordinary near the box. As a result, Pogba has flourished under Solskjaer already.
However, the Frenchman has not shied away from his defensive duties, working diligently as a part of the team and staying compact higher up on the pitch. Yet, it is this change in responsibilities brought about by his new manager which should excite United fans of even better performances in the upcoming ties.
#1 The trust of his manager
All the best players in the world reached the peak of their abilities because there was someone to believe in them. Most often, it is the manager of the team, who notices a talent and guides the players to reach their potential.
In Pogba's case, his differences with Mourinho were for all to see right from the first season. As a result, this had greatly affected the Frenchman's developments. With Solskjaer's appointment, it was clear that all he needed was a little trust, a pat on the back and maybe even a hug.
Pogba looks inspired under his new manager and all credit must go to the Norwegian for successfully motivating the Frenchman to regain his best form in a very short time. It is this belief shown by Solskjaer on the midfielder that will go a long way to shape his season.
Pogba will definitely score quite a few more goals before the end of this season. His best returns so far are 10 goals and 16 assists in 49 games in all competitions for Juventus in the 2015/16 season.
As of now, the Frenchman has 7 goals and 6 assists from 22 games in all competitions this season. Under Solskjaer's guidance, Pogba could very well go on to have his best season ever by the end of this campaign.
