MANCHESTER (REUTERS) -The re-born Paul Pogba scored twice, for the second time since Jose Mourinho's departure from the club, as Manchester United beat Bournemouth 4-1 to make it three wins in a row for caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
After emphatic wins over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town, the manner of the victory was further evidence of the return of attacking football under Solskjaer and of the liberated way in which the players are performing.
None seem to be relishing their football again more than World Cup winner Pogba, who has netted four of the 12 goals that rejuvenated United have scored in the three matches since their former Norwegian striker took the reins.
It took Pogba just five minutes to strike for sixth-placed United, sliding the ball in at the back post after a wonderful piece of dribbling and a precise low cross from Marcus Rashford.
The Frenchman, who scored twice against Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day, then burst into the box to head home an Ander Herrera cross from deep to make it 2-0.
"It is different, we still won games with the old manager but it is just a different style of playing," said Pogba.
"We are more offensive and we are creating more chances and that is how we want to play. I always want to do more, but I want to play for the team and play simple." Not only was Pogba appearing in more advanced positions but he looked back to his confident self on the ball, strutting while in possession and constantly looking to create.
There was real class about United's third, in the 45th minute, as Anthony Martial delivered a low cross with the outside of his boot and Rashford guided it home off the outside of his outstretched foot.
Â
Â
Â
Bournemouth pulled a goal back in stoppage-time at the end of the first half though when David Brooks skipped around the United defence and placed a cross on the head of Nathan Ake who nodded past David De Gea.
Romelu Lukaku made it 4-1, two minutes after coming on as a 70th minute substitute, latching on to a Pogba through ball and hooking the ball past the advancing Asmir Begovic.
Pogba was inches away from a hat-trick with a low drive from 20 yards out that struck the post.
The relaxed and positive mood was slightly undone by a wild lunge in the 79th minute from United defender Eric Bailly on Ryan Fraser, with the Ivorian rightly being shown a straight red card.
"In the first half we attacked the game with a high tempo and high energy but the response to their goal was great. We managed the game much better than against Huddersfield," said Solskjaer.
"We are still looking for a clean sheet - you can't switch off for one second in this league.
"It's a very very good performance, the crowd was enjoying it but now Newcastle, the next one, is a different kind of test."
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after slamming Man Utd's Class of 92. Ibrahimovic referred to the Class of '92 in an exclusive interview with the Mirror as the Circle of Ferguson
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticism
England captain Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker
Football: Solskjaer 'confident' of Man United Champions
FAS' media-rights partner begins bankruptcy process MP & Silva's Singapore office has been cleared out. The company's accounts have been frozen, its staff contracts terminated, and all its
FAS' media-rights partner begins bankruptcy process, Football
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL Liverpool coach Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Salah abuse ahead of Chelsea clash A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea's Europa League match at Slavia Prague showed
Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Mohamed Salah
Tottenham's first home game at their new stadium has been provisionally confirmed, with Spurs set to host Crystal Palace on Wednesday, April 3.. Spurs confirmed last week that they had held talks
Liverpool will spend Christmas on top of the Premier League after goals from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk earned them a 2-0 win at Wolves on Friday, opening up a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester City.
Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink
Arsenal back to winning ways with 2-1 victory at Huddersfield Alex Iwobi deflected strike gave Arsenal 16th-minute lead Alexandre Lacazette's 10th league goal of season made it two Late own goal from Sead Kolasinac was consolation for hosts Arsenal still without away Premier League clean sheet all season Huddersfield bottom, 13 points from safety; Arsenal stayed sixth Arsenal host
Soccer: Iwobi, Lacazette lead Arsenal to win at Huddersfield
Manchester United fullback Diogo Dalot is adamant they can score at Barcelona.United fell to a 1-0 defeat in the first-leg of their Champions League quarterfina Man Utd know we can score in
Fergie: We can match Barca | FOX Sports
Pochettino Loses His Cool as Spurs Slump, Huddersfield Closer to Relegation Mauricio Pochettino launched a furious rant at referee Mike Dean after Tottenham's Premier League title challenge suffered a crushing blow in a controversial 2-1 defeat against Burnley, while Huddersfield were pushed closer to relegation by their 2-0 loss at Newcastle
Pochettino loses his cool as Spurs slump, Huddersfield closer
Rejected by Paris Saint-Germain after the world-record signing of Neymar, Lucas Moura propelled Tottenham to heights the French giants could only dream of on Wednesday by single-handedly firing
Spurs should drop Lloris for prime 4, says Jenas. a must-win match with the membership having taken just one out of 15 factors from their final 5 league video
Ex-Spurs man says Lloris should be dropped now… even for
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans straight on Messi the pope praised his Argentine compatriot Messi, but said he must not be called God. Pope Francis is known to be a
'He's great to watch, but he's not God': Pope sets fans
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates with Jordan Henderson at the end of the match REUTERS. Liverpool crushed Arsenal 5-1 to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday but manager Juergen Klopp still would not get involved in any talk of winning the title.
0 comments:
Post a Comment