Paul Pogba criticised for lack of contribution in Manchester United defeat despite assist

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Paul Pogba provided his ninth Premier League assist of the season in Manchester United’s defeat to City.

It was Pogba’s second assist since he came back from injury, but not enough to prevent United from a mauling at The Etihad.

Pogba had set up Jadon Sancho’s goal which had levelled the match. United unfortunately went on to lose the game 4-1.

Pogba was taken off with the score at 2-1 as part of a double change which saw Anthony Elanga also come off, with Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford on.

BBC pundit Garth Crooks selected three City players in his team of the week column, and chose to tear into Pogba too. Somewhat harshly.

Crooks wrote: “Big games require big players but I was alarmed by Paul Pogba’s poor contribution in this one. If ever a fixture was made for him, this was it – and he allowed it to just pass him by.”

Unfair to single out Pogba

There were several United players who went missing, especially in the second half. But Pogba played just 15 minutes after half-time and the team got considerably worse without him.

Jesse Lingard, his replacement, managed an embarrassing two touches in just half an hour on the pitch. Crooks made no mention of him.

As usual, Pogba picks up the flak due to his hefty price tag. It has been the same story since he arrived at the club in 2016.

Pogba may not be the solution to United’s ills, you could even argue he is part of the problem and the club needs a clean slate when he inevitably moves on this summer.

But against City on Sunday, there were far worse players, with both Fred and Scott McTominay struggling, along with United’s entire defence. Pogba actually did something positive, and wasn’t even on the pitch for United’s worst stretch of the game.

Pogba wasn’t perfect of course. The assist was the only chance he created, and he did not have any shots, or even win a tackle. Some of the issue came with the confusion over where he and Bruno Fernandes were playing and the system United were using. Whichever the case, it got a lot worse after the Frenchman was withdrawn.