Paul Pogba has appeared in 21 games for Manchester United this season, starting every one;
only David de Gea has made more starts for United this season (22) and only Zlatan
Ibramhimovic has also started 21 games.
While Pogba played in the draw against Liverpool and the loss to Chelsea in an advanced role
in the attacking midfield trident, he has otherwise played in a two-man midfield axis
alongside Fellaini or Herrera, or on the left of a
midfield three.
Pogba is becoming increasingly important to Manchester United, as would be expected of
a player of his calibre, as Mourinho finds style
of play that suits the dynamic, creative midfielder.
In his first ten games, Pogba scored twice, against Leicester City and Swansea.
In his subsequent eleven, he has again scored twice,
against Palace, and Middlesbrough, but also registering three assists, against West Ham,
Sunderland, and Palace (the same game he scored in).
He thus had a hand in 0.2 goals per game in his first 10 matches, up to 0.45 goals
per game in his next 11.
In games where Pogba has scored or assisted, United are with five
wins and one draw.
The turning point, though, appears to have been the loss to Chelsea, the final time
Mourinho deployed Pogba in an advanced role, and the last time United were beaten in the
league (match day nine).
Prior to that, Pogba had yet to settle in the side and was being used in two different
roles, as Mourinho sought to find his best position
and fit the right players around him.
Up to and including the Chelsea match, United were W3
D2 L3.
Pogba was averaging 1.5 chances per game, 0.6 shots on target, and 2.1 shots off
target per game, and had an average passing accuracy of 82.5%.
He was making an average of 56 successful passes, and taking an average
of 89 touches, 3 of which were in the opposition box.
Since the Chelsea loss, United are W7 D6 L0, including the Burnley game in which Tom
Heaton single-handedly denied United three points.
Pogba’s personal contribution has gone up significantly.
He is now averaging 2.2 chances per game, 1.2 shots on target and 1.7 shots off
target, and his passing accuracy has increased to
84.2%.
Crucially, he has increased his chance output significantly and doubled his shots on
target per game, while reducing his shots off target.
His successful pass tally is now up to an average of 65 per game, and he is now taking
101 touches per game, 5 of which are in the opposition box.
Despite playing in a more withdrawn role, Pogba is a greater attacking threat
and getting forwards more, and his increased number of touches shows that he is exerting
a greater influence.
Pogba still needs to work on his ‘big game’ showings, though.
He has played a ‘big six’ team six times: Liverpool twice, and Spurs, Chelsea,
Arsenal, and Manchester City once each; three of these were after the Chelsea game.
His chances created drops to 0.7 per game, versus 2.5 per game against other sides, and
his shots on target drops to 0.3 per game versus
1.3 per game against non-top-six sides.
Pogba also asserts less of an influence against the top six, with an average 71 touches per
game, as opposed to 107 per game against other teams, and 40 successful passes per game
as opposed to 70 successful passes per game against other teams.
Pogba has struggled most against Liverpool, Spurs, and Manchester City,
all teams that seek to press hard and exert pressure on the opposition when they are in
possession, recording his lowest number of touches and worst passing performances against
those three sides.
In conclusion, then, Paul Pogba’s performances and those of United have improved markedly
since the Chelsea defeat.
While the team around him is playing better, notably with Ander ​
Herrera also coming to prominence, Pogba’s own influence has grown markedly.
He has completed the second most successful passes
of any Premier League player, 1290, behind Jordan Henderson’s 1583, and had the second
most touches, 2025, again behind Henderson’s 2143.
His 41 chances created are the joint 12 th most in the league, and his shots
on target total of 21 is the 13 th best in the league, and 5 th best if you only count
midfielders.
Pogba needs to improve against the top sides, but as he finds his feet, he is certainly
on the way to showing that he can be one of the most
important players in the Premier League.