Man United vs Bournemouth: Two things we observed

By Sam Walsh

Manchester United defeated Bournemouth 4-1 on Sunday, a result which now places the Red Devils a whopping 19 point behind league leaders Liverpool. This is the third game interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has overseen, the post Mourinho era turning into an exciting time for the club. The interim manager secured his third win in as many games on Sunday beating Bournemouth at Old Trafford, with help from two first half goals from Paul Pogba and here are two things we observed in the game:

Paul pogba thrives in a free role:

Pogba was fast becoming less and less influential under Jose Mourinho. The midfielder had a strained working relationship with his former coach, with the pair always at loggerheads over their style of play.

Out of the 12 goals scored since Solskjaer’s appointment, Pogba has contributed heavily, scoring four and assisting three. That is a huge return for a player once deemed ‘a virus’ who was lacking character and maturity by his former manager.

So what has changed? It could be that Solskjaer employs a style of play that allows the French international to play in a free role, giving him enough room for creativity.

Solskjaer has also helped Pogba to regain his confidence and given him the license to be free and become the player we once knew and loved.

Eric Bailly can become a Man United legend:

When Bailly joined Manchester United, the deal seemed to be a major coup, and just a few years later, inconsistent had become the perfect way to describe his game.

One of Bailly’s best attributes is his pace, with which he pursues strikers and puts them under pressure. The top tier seems to be proving difficult for him and his pace alone won’t keep him a first team place at United in the Premier League.

His role in the team needs to be worked on and that is where Solskjaer comes in – with the manager’s help, Bailly can surely become a success and live up to his early promise.