Paul Pogba impresses for Manchester United against Bournemouth — but late substitution points to trouble
His place in United’s FA Cup semi-final starting eleven against Tottenham is under threat thanks to inconsistent displays and his relationship with Mourinho
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Your support makes all the difference.Paul Pogba delivered the perfect answer to his critics – which include Jose Mourinho – by setting up Manchester United’s clincher on the south coast and then failing to acknowledge his manager.
The £89 million summer signing’s place in United’s FA Cup semi-final starting eleven against Tottenham is under threat thanks to inconsistent displays and his relationship with Mourinho.
His brilliance though sealed victory for United as his charging run set up Romelu Lukaku to add to Chris Smalling’s first half opener.
Pogba was then replaced before he shook hands with a member of United’s coaching staff before failing to make eye contact with Mourinho and then walking down the tunnel.
All eyes were on Mourinho’s team selection after he vented his fury following the shock 1-0 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion on Sunday which resulted in Manchester City being handed the title.
The United manager had vowed to drop several players for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley as a result but made seven changes for this fixture.
The much-changed line-up did not give too much away, with the prospect of players being rested for a fixture deemed more important, but Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez both were left on the bench. Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial all started in a youthful attack.
But the opening goal came from a rather more unlikely source. Late in the first-half Ander Herrara’s clever pass found Lingard on the right and he crossed for centre back Chris Smalling to convert with ease.
No reaction from Mourinho who sat impassively on the bench for most of the 90 minutes.
Bournemouth have failed to keep a home clean sheet since November but responded well with Fraser denied by David De Gea while the United keeper saved well to deny Josh King following a powerfully struck shot on the edge of the area while Simon Francis’ deflected effort went wide from Steve Cook’s long throw.
But in the second-half Pogba exerted his authority on the contest.
He won a free kick for United right on the edge of the area after a foul by Bournemouth sub Lys Mousset, which resulted in jeers from Bournemouth supporters. Lukaku, who had just come on as sub, could only shoot directly into the wall.
United had flown into life again with Rashford’s left-footed shot kept out by Begovic before Pogba’s brilliance allowed them to settle with Lukaku netting for the 27th time this season.
But the terse relationship between him and Mourinho was again in evidence at just the routine move of a late substitution, a continued story that is doing United few favours.
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