It's been one of many problems this season for Manchester United, what should they do with Paul Pogba? As far as his former coach René Meulensteen is concerned, he needs a certain system to thrive.
Meulensteen is a former Man United coach who managed Pogba as a teen during the French midfielder's first stint with the club. Speaking to TrainingGroundGuru, he suggests the absence of Ander Herrera has been crucial to Pogba's form.
Last week many remarked on the statistical difference between when Herrera was fit and out injured.
Pogba seems to miss Herrera to the same extent. When taking a broad look at his career in its entirety, Meulensteen points out a common trend: "With Juve and France he did extremely well, but had players like Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal with him in Turin, and N'golo Kante for France."
The pace of the game is also much slower in Italy than it is in the Premier League, where it’s constant action and you have to be urgent both in and out of possession. If you look at some of Pogba's best games for United, they've been alongside Ander Herrera. The two of them are complementary.
Herrera gives Pogba the platform to get in the box and play those searching passes, because he keeps the balance. He’s able to stop the fires, is mobile, can pick the right passes and has really good game understanding. I don't think the other central midfielders we've seen have been able to provide that same platform.
Meulensteen also maintains Pogba should be doing more in terms of work-rate. Unfortunately for Manchester United, that partnership can only be short-lived as Herrera is set to depart for PSG at the end of the season.
Who replaces him will likely depend on their summer transfer activity. Ole Gunnar Solskjær will have to plan for that with a yet to be appointed Director of Football. After both Edwin Van Der Sar and Fabio Paratici were linked to the role, reports last week indicated the Premier League club were set to appoint Mike Phelan instead.
Roy Keane was asked by Sky Sports was he interested in the position midweek. The former club captain said he was not but that the club must do business this summer.
No, no, no. I hope and pray Ole does well, he’s a good guy. Like every other manager, if he’s losing, he’s under pressure. He’s been a big favourite, and he’s got to win football matches.
But he’s got to be given a chance by getting players in because clearly he’s got to get players out.
Roy Keane as a Director of Football at @ManUtd? ?@DavidJonesSky asks the question...?
What do you think, @ManUtd fans? ? pic.twitter.com/1rA0VmoAeM
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 24, 2019
