After what has been a solid start to the season for Manchester United, their campaign hit the first roadblock of sorts after Paul Pogba, influential to their early season form, succumbed to a hamstring injury in their Champions League fixture against FC Basel. The Frenchman looks set to miss around 4-6 weeks of first team action and will be gunning to make a quick recovery and help his team in their quest for supremacy.
His absence will present a selection dilemma to Mourinho, as Manchester United don’t have an out and out replacement for Paul. His role in the first team exceeds that of just a midfielder. He’s the cog between defence and attack and his passing range will definitely be missed.
Let us look at Man Utd will line up without Paul Pogba for the next few weeks:
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Strategy 1: A 4-2-3-1 formation
This could be a formation that Mourinho might exploit. The only difference being, Matic and Herrera will act as CDM’s. With Pogba alongside Matic, the Frenchman could stretch his legs and venture forward to help with attacks, but given the different array of qualities Herrera brings to the team, he would slot perfectly in defensive midfield alongside Matic. While this formation is indeed more on the defensive side, the onus will be on the wide men to provide penetrative crosses into the box for Romelu Lukaku. The attacking trio of Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Mata too will have to handle the attacking mantle on themselves.
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Strategy 2: 4-4-2 / 4-3-3 Hybrid
Mourinho is known to play mind-games. Pogba’s absence might mean the introduction of Fellaini into the starting XI. While we could see a considerable drop in United’s build-up play, Fellaini’s presence enables them to play bullish football.
A midfield of Carrick and Matic could provide further security and steel to the squad. Carrick could drop deep, almost as a third CB; while Matic stays in midfield to keep the ball ticking. The pace up-top of Rashford, Mkhitaryan and Lukaku could be utilized by Carrick’s superior ball distribution.
With that being said, Paul’s absence would definitely need someone else to take up the inventive baton in United’s midfield.
