Manchester United’s best hope of salvaging their season rests at the feet of Paul Pogba and his ability play at his best, report agencies.
Pogba contributed more than any other player as United were humiliated against Watford.
He managed to play around 20 minutes - and such was his
form, that defeat may have been avoided had he played from
the start.
His passing was as remembered, the best that United have seen since the retirement of Michael Carrick.
His ability to pick a pass would match anything on offer at Barcelona, and he would certainly stand out in Real Madrid’s midfield.
Juventus, another potential suitor, have nobody with his range. It nevertheless appears that he will remain at the club for at least the rest of the season, and if he continues the form from his last appearance, United might yet scrape a top-four finish.
Pogba’s return would allow United to relegate Jesse Lingard back to the bench. Lingard is an odd mixture of effort and ineffectiveness. Whether it is deliberate or not, he is rarely found in positions where his talent and bravery is tested. Instead, he is a safe and pedestrian player. That might be useful in central midfield, but serves to blunt attacks when he is deployed as a number 10 or on the wing.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly knows that United are struggling for guile. He has occasionally given Juan Mata the chance, but it appears that age has caught up with him dramatically in the last couple of seasons. Never the fastest, his body hampers him carrying out even the most basic tasks.
Pogba may only be intermittently fit, and intermittently focused, but when he is determined, he carries the ball serenely and with impressive technique. There is nobody in the squad who offers the same, nor is there an easily secured alternative available for transfer.
After speculation over his willingness to compete for United, Pogba demonstrated his talents at Vicarage Road. It is not enough to overturn a couple of seasons of criticism, some justified and some hysterical, but it points a way forward for club and player.
Regardless of whether Pogba wants to stay for the long term, he can't coast for another season. Real Madrid spent €348 million (£300m/$389m) elsewhere before they even considered moving for him.
Modern players often talk of wanting to leave a legacy, yet there is nothing yet in Pogba’s. Reigniting United on their path to recovery could be a start, even if he departs after Euro 2020.
It is not all on Pogba. Martial’s finishing in the box has again deserted him. James looks tired, and you can see why Solskjaer wants another right winger and another striker to take some of the strain. Fred and McTominay have done well to improve in Pogba’s absence, but there is clearly not enough between them to start challenging at the top of the table or to dominate lesser teams.
It is a truism that this position is the one that has altered most fundamentally in latest leap forward in modern football.
They need to be creative, technically flawless, understand defensive positioning and have the stamina and speed to make the most of their attacking talents.
It is perhaps the most demanding role in football, and few players now sustain a decade-long career in the position.
