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#1 Paul Pogba
You know you had an outstanding World Cup when you can lift the trophy after the final. Paul Pogba is a World Cup winner. The only Manchester United player to score in a World Cup final. Tells a lot about a player who was criticized last season at every hiccup, and when his lifestyle was discussed more than his football. Pogba did not have a great season, but then he did not do too poorly either. He had his moments of brilliance and all he had to do was gain the consistency that is typical of all the great players. Whatever he lacked in the 2017-2018 season, he made up for in the World Cup. He had the resources around him, a team that worked together and exceptional talents all over the park. But he was the engine of the French side, the one who dictated the tempo of the games. Pogba played 6 games for France, covering a distance of 58.2 Kms! He had 8 attempts, with 2 of them on target and scored 1 goal. He attempted 296 passes, completing 245 of them. Interestingly, he completed 36 long balls!
Deschamps had unleashed Pogba onto the world, putting defensive responsibilities on Kante and Matuidi, but Pogba was not the one to shy away from war. He attempted 8 tackles, suffered 15. He recovered the ball 21 times and made 16 clearances and 2 blocks. He committed 14 fouls and suffered 17 himself and also got himself a yellow card for all his troubles. He was as active in retrieving the ball as he was in clearing it and his long balls were the stuff of dreams. How many times did he find Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud with his inch-perfect balls? How many times did he lay the ball into the path of Mbappe so well that the youngster did not have to break his steaming run to control the ball? Mourinho will know that with a little aid, Pogba can replicate his tournament form for Manchester United. The whole world, therefore, will be looking forward to see whether Mourinho unshackles Pogba and lets the Frenchman dictate the course of the United team next season.
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