Manchester United star Paul Pogba has had a strong start to the season in a Red Devils shirt.
With seven assists already, Pogba leads the Premier League. This week United need him to deliver in the Champions League.
United’s first Champions League game did not go to plan. That certainly wasn’t Pogba’s fault.
But United will want to see Pogba at his best on Wednesday night.
Big stage, time to deliver
Pogba has been at Manchester United for five years now. And when it comes to the Champions League, he won’t feel as though he has really made the impact he wanted to.
What is Pogba’s best performance in the Champions League for Manchester United?
That’s a tough question to answer. Pogba was suspended for United’s famous 2019 win over PSG.
His best moments in the competition are few and far between. Last season he came off the bench away at PSG and provided the assist for Marcus Rashford’s winner.
That may have been one of his best moments in the competition in a United shirt, and the fact it came from the bench speaks volumes.
The home win over RB Leipzig was another highlight. It was Pogba’s threaded through ball which supplied Mason Greenwood for the opener in the 5-0 win. But aside from that it was more solid than spectacular.
Pogba’s best performance may have come under Jose Mourinho away at Young Boys in 2018. He scored two goals in a controlled performance as United won 3-0.
So with Pogba’s best Champions League performances in a United shirt few and far between, it’s time he produced a few more.
United need him
United need a strong Paul Pogba performance this week more than ever. The disaster in Switzerland puts United under pressure.
Villarreal are going to come to Old Trafford aiming to frustrate United and try and nick a win.
Pogba was used in a central midfield role in the Europa League final. If he plays in a more advanced role, as he has this season, then he will have a bigger chance of making an impact on the result.
The Frenchman’s great start to the season is showing signs of resetting a little. He’s three games without an assist, and United could do with him getting back to creating goals.
These are the games where United’s best players need to deliver. At times United haven’t been able to give him what he wants, in terms of the Champions League itself, and the all-star cast around him.
Pogba has everything he needs, including potentially an attacking role. Now we need to see him at his best.
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