PAUL POGBA PRODUCED an assured display as he made his second Manchester United debut in Friday’s 2-0 home win over Southampton following his world-record transfer from Juventus, though all the talk afterwards was about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s double.
The France international, 23, earned the approval of the Old Trafford crowd with some elegant touches and came close to scoring on several occasions as he completed the full 90 minutes.
The rangy midfielder with the peroxide blond hair returned to United last week in a world-record 89 million pounds (105 million euros) transfer from Juventus.
Pogba, who had not played since France’s 1-0 loss to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final on July 10, played alongside Marouane Fellaini at the base of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 system.
He had only trained with his new team-mates for around 10 days and manager Jose Mourinho said before the game that he was not capable of producing a “super performance”.
Mourinho had warned supporters not to expect Pogba to “dribble five players and score a wonder goal” with his first touch.
The Frenchman’s first involvement indeed proved forgettable, an embarrassing air-kick gifting possession to Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, but he quickly caught up with the pace of the game.
Pogba registered United’s first shot on target, which was comfortably saved by Fraser Forster, and his inventive pass to Juan Mata culminated in Ibrahimovic volleying wide.
After Ibrahimovic’s brace had put United 2-0 up, Pogba went close three times, heading over the bar from Mata’s 64th-minute corner and flashing a couple of shots wide.
He also proved an alert presence in defensive positions and drew roars of approval from the home fans midway through the second half by skilfully spinning away from two opponents in midfield.
Pogba left United in 2012 after failing to break into the first team under former manager Alex Ferguson, only to return last week after the most long-running transfer saga of the close season.
“It was like I’d just come back home,” Pogba said of his return. “It looks like I just went for a holiday.”
Four years, five months and one day had passed since his previous appearance for the club, as a second-half substitute in a 5-0 Premier League win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2012.
A picture of Pogba in a red United shirt adorned the front of the match-day programme for the Southampton game.
Vendors outside the stadium were selling Pogba scarves, while several fans sported United shirts with ‘POGBA 6′ on the back.
As well as Pogba’s second debut, Friday’s game also represented a first competitive United home outing for Mourinho and new signings Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a second-half substitute.
Ibrahimovic put United ahead in the 36th minute with an imperious header from Wayne Rooney’s right-wing cross and added a second goal with a penalty early in the second half.
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lead by example captain robbie and stop waving your arms looking for fouls.
hush now less of that banter its all a bit of craic and a excuse to get pissed, have the faith there’ll be a few more sessions
We have kept the faith Robbie now get off your arse and repay it!!!
Would have more faith if keane was dropped for shane long.
He just doesn’t have the fitness, while longs height will Benefit that questionable long ball game we play. Unfortunately It looks like he’s starting, cox and himself were training together. Either way come on Ireland
agreed
Time for a reality check here…let’s face it, this Irish team does not have the required quality and technical ability needed to get the results we are all “dreaming” of. At best we are looking at 2 defeats and a draw…but we are there and let’s try and enjoy the occasion…
fk yeah we’ll have a pint, and hope they do well, but they’re awful, the worst team there. As for robbie, hes bloody RETIRED. la galaxy and some trite comment about it just being another game. They will give the ball to Spain again and again and it will b painful. As for people giving thumbs down to comments that aren’t hopelessly optimistic, cop on. You live in a corrupt boghole of a banana republic, getting all teary eyed about a couple of geezers kicking a ball about when your country was sold from under you by inbred turds. Y’all did fk all about that didnt you? Great guys to get behind Ireland when it costs you nothing. Stay in the cowardly herd with your coybig bs. Id rather see them lose and try to play than lose the way they did and will do.
Janey Mac is all I can say to that
I would b a fan of robbies but it’s not all about past achievements he’s not playin well a d should be on the bench
I’ll start too when your on the bench
Joke of a comment, we have very few players that have not only shown commitment to their country from the very start to the very end of their career, not to mention delivered as well when it matters. Keano is without a shadow of a doubt one of them.
Not saying that gives him automatic rights to a start, he knows that himself and said it two years ago. But facts are facts and he gets big big goals in big games.
One word – “Dream”
Well we got there and should be proud of that and as long as they are playing I will believe cmon Ireland I love this country
With a population of 4 million and a semi pro league we’ve always punched above our weight.
All the naysayers said we wouldn’t qualify, now they’re saying we won’t get out of the group, we’ve nothing to lose. COYBIG!
For you its just another game… Its a lot more than just another game to a lot of fans and home and especially away… u should run your socks off and do your best to get a result… at the end of the day it is 11 men against 11 men… i cant see why we cant get a result but we have to go into it with a good attitude and show no fear…. COYBIG
Exactly man.
The fans have more passion than the players.
The last game was actually cringe worthy and extremely frustrating.
They should be destroying themselves out there, giving the cliched 110%.
Robbies 300/1 to score a hatrick v Spain. I heard David Villa and Butragueno are 50/1.
He would have more chance of winning the lotto twice over..
Ireland will lose to spain and italy alike and will go home as predicted by me on th 19th june ,
If you predict it on 19th June it’ll already have happened – what black magic is this?
For everyone who are convinced ireland will lose. 2/7 are the odds for spain to win. You might have to give your bank 24 hours notice if you are withdrawing your life savings for a bet.
We’re still in with a shout i think…
..in 2016..
first you didnt want me to buy the pony, now you want me to bring it back. make up your mind marge…
The faith of what?