Manchester United beat Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek and Solskjaer boldly chose to start Paul Pogba on the bench.
After the loss to Leicester City, Pogba had suggested that something should change in the side and his manager responded by putting him on the bench just a few days later.
While he did come on to replace McTominay in the second half but this bold selection decision from Solskjaer has certainly won praise from pundit Jamie Carragher.
He wrote in his Telegraph column: “When you get to year three it’s time to deliver. That’s why the criticism has come.
“That’s why he is being so closely scrutinised. He said after Leicester that “something has to give” and responded by dropping Paul Pogba against Atalanta. It was a big decision but he and United should be preparing for life without Pogba, who could easily leave at the end of the season.
Top Goalscorers after 163 games under Solskjaer:
54: Marcus Rashford
44: Bruno Fernandes
35: Anthony Martial
33: Mason Greenwood
18: Paul Pogba
17: Edinson Cavani
14: Scott McTominay#MUFC pic.twitter.com/cReW6Gfxft— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) October 21, 2021
“I thought it was strong management from Solskjaer to omit him after the player’s comments post-Leicester about something needing to change because it’s a decision that’s largely been fudged until now.
“It felt like the wagons were circling on Wednesday and United reacted as big clubs often do in such circumstances.”
Will Paul Pogba start against Liverpool?
Man United have tried to use Paul Pogba in a more central role in the previous few weeks but this plan has massively failed. So there’s no way Solskjaer is going to put the Frenchman in a deeper role, alongside Fred or McTominay when Liverpool comes to OT.
McTominay and Fred are going to play as the two defensive midfielders so that the backline has some extra protection while Bruno Fernandes is going to occupy the No 10 role.
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This means either Paul Pogba will slot into the left-wing(a position where’s he’s played a few times this season) or he’s going to have to be content with a place on the bench.
With Rashford back to full fitness and Jadon Sancho also available, we doubt if Ole will put Pogba out on the flanks.
The midfielder is reluctant to sign a new deal and maybe this is why Ole is preparing for life without him. And to be fair, whenever he plays in central midfield, Man United’s pressing ability goes down drastically.
Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo has come back, Man United’s pressing in the final third has diminished and this problem is amplified further with Paul Pogba playing in a double pivot.
So, there’s a high chance the World Cup winner is going to be kept on the bench on Sunday and will only come on as a second-half substitute.
