Paul Pogba has well and truly rediscovered his form for Manchester United, registering two goals and an assist in United's 4-1 victory over Bournemouth. All of a sudden the Frenchman is scoring, assisting, and generally playing like he isn't lumbering around the pitch with a cement block tied to his boots.
Of course that might have something to do with the departure of a certain Portuguese manager. Ever since Mourinho has left the club, Pogba has looked a different player. The two had what could be generously described as a fractured relationship, and it had deteriorated beyond the point of repair in recent months.
With such a sudden change in form for Pogba since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it of course raises the question: Was Pogba's poor play down to Mourinho's tactics and style of play, or had the midfielder simply been phoning it in for the past few months?
Many were quick to say that the World Cup winner is simply a rejuvenated player, no longer restricted by the shackles of a divisive and domineering manager.
Scientists in North West England have discovered Paul Pogba will score goals if you let him roam forward and use his creativity in attack. More news at ten.
— Elko Born (@Elko_B) December 30, 2018
.@paulpogba scores twice in successive games for the first time in his career - this his 296th club career appearance pic.twitter.com/ISJw8UmhRc
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 30, 2018
Same applies to @paulpogba. Even though players will never consciously not try, however much they may hate the manager, the improvement that comes with contentment both on and off the field makes a marked difference.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 30, 2018
Paul Pogba is a joke. Don't ever doubt him. Just look at what he can do under a manager that allows him to play. Immense.
— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) December 30, 2018
Paul Pogba is now United's joint-top scorer. Suspect he'll get into double figures this season. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 30, 2018
7 - With four goals and three assists, December 2018 has been Paul Pogba's best ever month for league goal involvements in his top-flight career. Heaven. #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/DGDu2SkiBj
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2018
Such is the player's confidence at the moment, that he was actually practicing his celebrations on the pitch before the game.
Paul Pogba was practising his goal celebration in the warm-up 😂😂
📻 https://t.co/nOCybh8ExD // #MUNBOU pic.twitter.com/vYLOUn1wRK— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 30, 2018
Of course, the whole scenario is hardly that simple. To say that Pogba's scarcely believable turn in form is down to less restrictive tactics is naive. Does anybody really believe that the midfielder had been giving his all for Mourinho and, as an extension, Manchester United this season?
The fans who are praising the player now were the very same who were criticising him for his attitude under Mourinho. Has all been forgotten just because of his departure? Does his current form not even further emphasis that Pogba had been cruising through games this season?
You can say what you like about tactics, but effort has been the main difference in Pogba's performances under Solskjaer.
“I think Pogba’s been cheating his manager, his team, his fans and himself!”
Two goals already today against #AFCB ⚽️⚽️
But should #MUFC supporters hold Paul Pogba accountable for how he performed under José Mourinho?#BBC606 pic.twitter.com/1Yx0g7lsZ6— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) December 30, 2018
The sentiment that supporters makes is one that is perhaps not being echoed enough. United fans should not be completely blinded by Pogba's recent performances. He has been a non-factor for most of this season, and that was largely down to a poor attitude.
Manchester United are too big of a club to be in the position they currently are, and for their talisman to show little inclination to get them out of that situation for the past three months is not acceptable.
More luck to Paul Pogba over the remainder of the season, it is a relief to see him playing well once again. The Premier League is certainly more entertaining when he is performing at his best, and he is a player with almost limitless potential.
However, United fans should perhaps not be so quick to re-board the #POGBACK bandwagon, and be so forgiving of someone who has let them down so badly this season before now. Any footballer can have a dip in form, that is not what that was. Mourinho can hardly be the only one to blame.
History has a funny habit of repeating itself, and Manchester United supporters should not be expecting to see the Pogba issue suddenly disappear along with their former-manager.
