Last season away at Tottenham, Paul Pogba was the difference maker as he came off the bench to help Manchester United to claim a draw by winning a penalty in his comeback game.
Then at home to Spurs, back in October, he was one of United’s worst performers in a crushing 6-1 win. Pogba was still recuperating from a bout of Covid at the time, but he was still judged fit enough to start, and looked lost as Jose Mourinho’s side took United apart.
This time, it was time for Pogba to dominate once again, and he helped United surgically dismantle Tottenham in the second half with pinpoint precision.
Pogba played in a more advanced role than he did at Old Trafford, and Tottenham could not cope with him.
The Frenchman set up Edinson Cavani’s disallowed goal, and got his assist eventually when he set up Mason Greenwood’s injury time third goal.
Pogba’s ability to run with the ball, take an extra touch and take players on, creating time and space for others, was a key aspect of United’s second half fightback.
He created two goalscoring chances (aside from the disallowed Cavani strike and the Greenwood assist), picking his moments to deliver key passes to his teammates.
Pogba completed six successful dribbles, more than any player on the pitch.
For context, the rest of the United team managed eight in total, the same as Tottenham’s starting XI.
It was not just a pretty performance from Pogba. He chipped in defensively too, making four clearances – more than any Manchester United player.
It was an all round excellent display from the Frenchman, which continued to underline how good he can be if freed from the shackles of the restrictive midfield pivot.
Pogba is good enough to play that role well, but you can get so much more out of him when he gets into the final third.
United missed Pogba badly when he was out injured, and may not have won this game without him.
He is a difference maker, as he showed against AC Milan last month, and it is imperative United find a way to convince him to sign a new contract in the summer.
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