MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes Manchester United are now seeing the Paul Pogba he knows from his time in charge of the club's reserve team after the French World Cup winner scored twice in a 3-1 win over Huddersfield on Boxing Day.
Solskjaer's reign as caretaker manager began with a 5-1 win at Cardiff on Saturday, and his dream start continued with a resounding welcome by the Old Trafford faithful.
Nemanja Matic scored the opener, but it was Pogba's second half display and the Frenchman's two goals that spoke volumes about the change in mood at the club in the week since Jose Mourinho was sacked as manager and replaced, until the end of the season, by the popular Norwegian.
Solskjaer coached Pogba as a youngster before the midfielder left for Juventus and United had to pay a then world record £89 million to bring him back in 2016.
"That's the Paul I know," said Solskjaer.
"The Paul I've known since he was in the reserves and youth team with me.
"He has always been a happy boy, he's always had a big smile on his face."
Â
Pogba cut a less than happy figure for much of this season as he clashed with Mourinho and was left on the bench for the Portuguese's final three league games in charge.
"When you score a goal, or two, of course you are happy," Solskjaer said.
"But when you play football for Man United you should be happy. Of course it's a responsibility, but it's an honour and a privilege.
"Paul loves playing for this club. He's a Man United boy through and through, a kid who knows what it means to play for Man United."
DE GEA'S 'DEFINING MOMENT'
The outcome could have been very different, though, but for David de Gea's stunning save to keep out an effort from Laurent Depoitre moments before Pogba's first and United's second goal.
"Dave's save was the defining moment. One of the best saves I've seen," said Solskjaer.
United swiftly went down the other end and Juan Mata and Ander Herrera teed up Pogba to convert an accurate finish from 16 yards.
Pogba had only scored twice in a Premier League game once - in the derby victory at Manchester City in April that ranked as one of the highlights of Mourinho's time in charge.
But he would repeat the trick in Solskjaer's second game in charge, exchanging passes with Jesse Lingard, before beating Jonas Lossl with a spectacular right-foot finish from 25 yards after 77 minutes.
Solskjaer has had a whirlwind week after temporarily leaving his role in charge of Molde to help out the club where he spent 11 seasons as a player.
"It was extra special of course," said Solskjaer of his return as manager to Old Trafford. "But I was surprisingly calm, the boys settled me down really quickly.
"It's special to walk out there, hearing the crowd again singing my song - normally they started after I scored a goal, not before the game after I walked out!
"But it's humbling and made me really proud. Hopefully, my family are proud and my family back home in Norway watching on telly.
"It was a great day, I will never ever forget, I'll never forget these two games."
Huddersfield claimed a late consolation as substitute Steve Mounie outjumped Pogba to head on an 88th minute Alex Pritchard free-kick, setting up Mathias Zanka who slotted in from close range.
"We have seen again today that they play with freedom," said Huddersfield manager David Wagner of Solskjaer's new-look United.
"They penetrate the ball in the right moments. In the first half we came under tremendous pressure but they play with freedom and they still have world-class players. We have seen that today."
Chelsea have been handed a huge incentive to claim a top three finish in the Premier League. With Tottenham Hotspur failing to beat Bournemouth yesterday afternoon, the Blues can climb above their London rivals today and stay there with a win on the final day of the season next weekend.
Cardiff v Chelsea & Liverpool v Tottenham live in Premier
Hope and Glory (DVD) : A nostalgic and gently comic remembrance of England during the turbulent Blitz as seen through the eyes of ten-year-old Billy Rohan. While the beauty of the aircraft and tanks holds endless wonders for the young boy, others know all too well the destruction they bring.
New Music CDs for Adults | The Seattle Public Library - spl.org
The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday that for the first time an all-female referee team will take charge of a men's continental club cup clash. Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistants Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi will officiate the AFC Cup match between Myanmar's Yangon United and Cambodia's Naga World at the
History made as women to referee men's AFC Cup | Football
My San Antonio Spurs, the class of the NBA, are primed and ready for another run. Winners of 9 straight and set to get #6.
Spurs prevail again in rematch with Lakers - San Antonio
Football: Albirex Niigata could sign up to four Singaporean players in a boost for 2019 SEA Games
Latest ALBIREX NIIGATA | The Straits Times
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side moved 10 points clear of the relegation
Football: Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League
Top 5 Best 9mm Self-Defense Ammo for Concealed Carry Reviews 1 Magtech Ammunition 9 mm 115GR FMJ Ammo. This ammo's main objective is to make sure that people can access the best and cheap ammo for the 9mm concealed carry. The company has been making the best ammo for years now, so you can be sure that this one will be great.
Lpc Printing
Step up or ship out: Solskjaer. waka 3 weeks ago. 0 0 2 minutes read. Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn StumbleUpon Tumblr Pinterest Reddit VKontakte Odnoklassniki
Step up or ship out: Solskjaer - theworldnews.net
Captain Tim Paine expressed his relief after Australia beat India in the second Test to level the series at 1-1. Having lost in Adelaide, the Baggy Greens hit back in Perth to record a 146-run triumph and ensure there is everything to play for when the battle is resumed in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
Post-scandal Australia 'grit' hailed after 'best win' for
Man City ready to pounce on any Liverpool slip-ups, says Guardiola By The Open View on January 15, 2019 • ( Leave a comment ) Manchester : Pep Guardiola said his Manchester City team will be poised to pounce if Premier League leaders Liverpool falter, following a comfortable 3-0 win over Wolves that left City four points behind Jurgen Klopp
Man City ready to pounce on any Liverpool slip-ups, says boss
BARCELONA: Lionel Messi received his record fifth Golden Shoe award for leading all of Europe's football leagues in scoring last season. Messi's fifth win breaks the tie he had with Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi scored 34 goals in La Liga last season to lead Barcelona to the title. Liverpool forward
Messi claims record 5th Golden Shoe - sportskeeda.com
Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri says the club can do "very well next season" if Gonzalo Higuain stays at Stamford Bridge The Argentina international was on target in Chelsea's 3-0 win against
Sarri: Higuain must earn permanent Chelsea deal - mau.co.ke
AFF SUZUKI CUP; SOUTH EAST ASIAN GAMES; AFF U22 CHAMPIONSHIP; AFF U19 CHAMPIONSHIP; AFF U16 CHAMPIONSHIP; AFF WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP; AFF U16 GIRLS' CHAMPIONSHIP; AFF FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP; AFF FUTSAL CUP; AFF BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP; Gallery; Calendar; Info. Member Associations 🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇳 Brunei 🇰🇭 Cambodia
Cardiff City are at the centre of an unprecedented sporting dispute over the transfer fee for Emiliano Sala that has gone to FIFA and could end up in the High Court, then the Court of Arbitration
0 comments:
Post a Comment