BULLIED on the pitch by a team which had not won a home league game in three months.
Bullied off the pitch by a former pizza restaurant waiter who controls the destinies of their prized asset and the lad who was their No 1 January transfer target.
Manchester United were bullied on the pitch by ArsenalCredit: Getty – Contributor
This is Manchester United in 2020. A once-feared footballing institution now regarded as a soft touch by opponents and agents.
On the first day of the new decade, boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watched his United team ruthlessly dismantled by a lowly Arsenal side not known for energy and desire but which comprehensively outdid them on both counts.
Then the United boss let slip that Paul Pogba’s ‘people’ had demanded that the Frenchman had an immediate foot operation.
These ‘people’ — or rather his agent Mino Raiola — had also guided Erling Haaland, Europe’s most potent young striker, away from a potential move to United and instead to Borussia Dortmund.
Now United and Raiola finally seem to agree on one thing — Pogba’s United career is over.
He has started just one Premier League game since August and, while injuries happen, the long-term saga of the £89million club-record signing’s rocky relationship with United dictates that little is taken at face value.
United and Mino Raiola finally seem to agree on one thing — Pogba’s United career is overCredit: Rex Features
The midfielder had returned from a long-term lay-off with two substitute appearances against Watford and Newcastle but will now have surgery.
After that strange mention of Pogba’s ‘people’, Solskjaer added that United’s own specialist agreed an op was required.
But he added: “It is something that has to be sorted, within a timeframe. He has been advised to do it as soon as, and he will probably do it as soon as.
“He will be out for three or four weeks probably.
“We look after our players’ health and are not going to take a risk with players who don’t feel they are able to play on.”
The mention of ‘players who don’t feel they are able to play on’ sounded like a coded dig at Pogba refusing to play through limited pain.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watched his United team ruthlessly dismantled by a lowly Arsenal sideCredit: AP:Associated Press
United are also missing their other first-choice central midfielder Scott McTominay.
He is developing into a fine player but a club of United’s stature should not be missing him so sorely.
Nemanja Matic and Fred were unable to provide the creativity or spark United needed as Arsenal
dominated them in the opening half, earning Mikel Arteta a first win as Gunners boss.
The need for January reinforcements, in midfield and up front, is now stark.
For a long time, United looked the most likely destination for Norwegian goal machine Haaland, who played under Solskjaer at Molde in their homeland.
But instead the 19-year-old left Red Bull Salzburg for Dortmund in an £18.5m deal. And earlier this week, his agent Raiola could not resist a dig at United, a club where he has been regarded as a pariah, then chosen business partner, then back to pariah status again.
Paul Pogba’s Man Utd career is OVER with club and player both desperate to end his spell at Old Trafford
United looked the most likely destination for Norwegian goal machine Haaland but instead he joined DortmundCredit: AFP
He said: “Pogba’s problem is Manchester United.
“It’s a club out of touch with reality and without a sporting project.
“I wouldn’t take anyone there, they would even ruin Maradona, Pele and Maldini.
“Paul needs a club and a squad, one like Juventus was before.”
You don’t have to like what the one-time pizza shifter stands for to agree with his statement about the lack of a sporting project.
It is difficult to argue against the idea that, since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement six-and-a-half years ago, United have been run primarily as a commercial concern, not a footballing one.
Pogba’s return from Juventus in 2016, for what was then a world-record fee, could itself be viewed as a statement signing, rather than the correct footballing one.
Of course, Pogba has often behaved with disrespect towards his employers.
But there have also been times when he has been a convenient scapegoat for a club which has lost its way.
As a 26-year-old World Cup winner, it is natural that Pogba should wish to play for one of the world’s leading clubs, with Real Madrid or Juve his most likely destinations.
United are now willing to sell for the right price. We have gone beyond the point where this should be regarded as a sign of capitulation and weakness.
Keeping him now would feel like a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
It is not all doom and gloom for United, who have been terribly inconsistent this season rather than consistently terrible.
Last month, Solskjaer enjoyed back-to-back victories over Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who they face in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.
But, as Robin van Persie mentioned on BT Sport’s coverage of the Arsenal defeat, there is something jarring about Solskjaer meekly smiling his way through post-match media duties after a convincing defeat.
This is a universally-liked nice guy, who often seems out of his depth.
The idea that any senior player, let alone Pogba, might feel a sense of fear about upsetting Solskjaer, is unconvincing.
David Luiz opens up about Arsenal about after getting man of the match award against Man Utd
United ought to have gone all out for Mauricio Pochettino when Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 — and they probably would have done if Solskjaer had not taken the side on such a miraculous run as caretaker boss.
Pochettino is available now, although United would still have to pay compensation to Tottenham as the Argentine is effectively on gardening leave.
Instead, United limp on in the unlikely belief that Solskjaer can restore them to title contention.
On the pitch and in the transfer market, though, they need something more ballsy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
