Scholes Thinks Pogba Needs A New Midfield Partner
Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff
Paul Scholes believes that Paul Pogba is trying to do too much on the ball, and that the midfielder is all over the place.
Pogba joined United this summer in a record-breaking £100 million deal from Serie A giants Juventus – the club he left Old Trafford for in 2012 on a free transfer.
However, the midfielder has failed to demonstrate the qualities that convinced United to smash the world record to bring him back.
He has appeared in every game under Mourinho since signing for the club, excluding their first Premier League game of the season against Bournemouth, for which he was banned due to a suspension being carried on from Italy.
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His poor performances have been criticised by fans and pundits alike, with many believing his lack of positional discipline has caused his team several problems.
Scholes echoed those thoughts, saying the midfielder appeared to be all over the place, and was trying to do too much on the ball.
‘It’s been a little bit of a struggle for him so far,’ said BT Sport pundit Scholes. ‘Tonight, again, wasn’t his best performance. I think it will come. It’s still very early days.
‘I don’t really know what position he’s playing at the minute. Has he got a position? Has he been told to play where he wants?
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‘He seems to be a little all over the place at times. I think he’s trying to do too much on the ball.
‘He’s trying to beat three or four players. He’s running with the ball. He should keep it simple for now.’
Despite his poor second start to life in Manchester, Scholes believes the Frenchman has a lot more to offer, and believes he has the qualities to be a success at Old Trafford. However, he also noted that his former club bought a player who could hold up play and create chances and space for others, and that Pogba should stick to his job and not try to go on mazy runs like Lionel Messi.
‘That’s not the player Manchester United bought. They didn’t buy a Lionel Messi to go and beat five players and stick it in the top corner all the time. They bought a powerful, strong midfield player who can take the ball. He’s got skill, he can pass it forward, he can run.
‘If he just plays one-two touch, sticks the ball into Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) and runs, nobody can live with that,’ he said. ‘He’s got so much pace, so much power.’
Scholes believes the way to get Pogba playing at his best is to have a controlling midfielder alongside him. The 23-year old played alongside the likes of Andrea Pirlo at Juventus, and that helped him express himself with more freedom.
However, the Class of ’92 star does not believe that United have a player of that capability at the moment apart from Michael Carrick, and would have to dip into the transfer market to find a player with that quality.
‘He needs a controlling midfield player next to him,’ said Scholes.
‘They probably need to go into the transfer market for somebody like that. Michael (Carrick) is capable of it. But they still need that controlling midfielder, who can control where Paul goes and can control a game of football
‘I know he’s (Mourinho) happy with the four players he’s bought but they still need that type of player. A Luka Modric or a Toni Kroos (the Real Madrid midfield pair).
‘I think these players are available. I think Paul Pogba would be a much better player playing with these types of players.’
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