Stats Prove Just How Much United Are Missing Paul Pogba

By BF Staff | November 7, 2017 |
Paul Pogba receives medical attention after sustaining an injury

Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

With Chelsea handing rivals Manchester United their second loss of the season, the Red Devils are finding it difficult to fill the void created by injured Paul Pogba in the midfield.

The Blues’ trio of N’Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko, and Cesc Fabregas easily outplayed United’s midfield partnership of Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park.

Since Pogba got sidelined due to a major hamstring injury, United’s attacking numbers have dropped drastically in the Premier League.

From creating 14.8 chances per game and at least 3 big chances per game in the first four games of the season, they are now creating just 7 and 1.6 respectively. The goals have followed the same trend, dropping from 3 to 1.6 per game.

 

 

Highlighting this difference in the overall performance of Jose Mourinho’s team, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville had this to say after the Chelsea game: “I thought Manchester United got killed in midfield. Pogba is a big miss because of his arrogance and confidence to take the ball. He takes the ball in tight areas.

“When Chelsea got the ball there was rhythm, it was already popped off around the corner, but United looked like a midfield that didn’t know where the next pass was. Pogba holds the ball, he beats a man.”

Manchester United’s star signing Romelu Lukaku has felt Pogba’s absence the most, as he is struggling to score due to the lack of services from the present crop of midfielders. The Belgian failed to make much of an impact against his former club, and manager Jose Mourinho would like to resolve this issue sooner.

 

Written by Himangshu Das  

Following dream off the pitch by penning down all the latest happenings inside the world of the beautiful game known as Football, trying to make it big.. one day.

 

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