Manchester United 4 Fenerbahce 1: Pogba gets going as Van Persie grabs goal on Old Trafford return
In an ideal world Paul Pogba would dominate games and score decisive goals every time he pulled on the No 6 Manchester United shirt but after this performance against Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho would simply settle for the same again at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The world’s most expensive footballer scored twice in United’s Europa League demolition of Fenerbahce and celebrated with the kind of bountiful confidence that seems to come naturally for this young man. If that performance against Liverpool on Monday was on his mind, when he found himself largely passed around at Anfield, then it certainly did not show.
He engaged in the kind of choreographed goal celebrations with his team-mate Jesse Lingard that most people over a certain age can only watch with a deep sense of embarrassment on behalf of the participants. But then United did not spend ?89 million on a man they hoped would be shy and retiring and Pogba is certainly not that.
After four games as substitute there was a return to the team for Wayne Rooney who must nonetheless wonder whether he has done enough to keep his place for the game against Chelsea. United won two penalties in quick succession in the first half and both times Rooney had the ball in his hands only to defer to Pogba and then Anthony Martial.
There was a goal late in the game for Fenerbahce’s Robin Van Persie, applauded by all sides of the ground with affection but also in the same way a child taking penalties at half-time might get some good-natured encouragement. In the stand, Sir Alex Ferguson, whose 13th Premier League title was delivered largely thanks to the Dutchman’s goals joined in the applause and so did his friend alongside him, Sam Allardyce.
Mourinho was even able to bring on the lesser-spotted Marcos Rojo and Memphis Depay as United strolled through the second half. Even so there was no place once again for Henrikh Mkhitaryan who did not even merit a place on the bench and Morgan Schneiderlin was not in the squad either. The result takes United top of the group on goal difference from Feyenoord.
Mourinho had one of his minor touchline rages when Pogba brought down the right winger Alper Potuk close to half-time and gave Fenerbahce a free-kick and one of their rare sights of the United goal in the first half.
It was a moment that showed how United’s ?89 million man can often look like a certainty to give away a free-kick when he comes bounding over to challenge a smaller opponent. Pogba does all sorts of things in the course of a match, good and bad. He can execute a little drag-back to take the ball away from an opponent and, in the space of a few minutes, he can fall over his own feet.
United are still looking for one of those stand-out performances against a major opponent and there is no question that there is so much that is possible from this remarkably gifted footballer who can dominate with his power and his technique. He was keen to take the first penalty that United won on the half hour and despite a run up that were eerily reminiscent of Simone Zaza’s ill-starred Euro 2016 semi-final miss for Italy, Pogba put his away.
Before then, United had lots of possession but little in the way of chances unless you count Anthony Martial arriving too late at the back post when Juan Mata crossed on 24 minutes. It was Mata who won the first penalty, twisting back onto a good throughball from Michael Carrick and inviting a disastrous challenge from Simon Kjaer who seemed determined to attract the French referee’s attention.
Pogba scored that and within three minutes, the French referee Benoit Bastien had given United another. This time it was the unfortunate Sener Ozbayraki who brought down Martial and Pogba allowed his team-mate to have the second penalty. An unusual tactic but one supposes that it keeps the goalkeeper guessing. Martial buried his in the same corner.
The best goal of the first half was the third goal. The calamitous Kjaer gave the ball to Rooney on the right and he found Jesse Lingard in the centre. The Englishman had to double back to get the ball and with his back to goal, teed up Pogba perfectly for a right footed shot into the top corner of the Fenerbahce goal.
Just about everyone present would rather not have seen the dance that the two former academy team-mates celebrated with, but sadly these things do happen.
HAVENT SEEN A GOOD CELEBRATION IN A WHILE & Moe. (@NoLaughingMata)
The Fenerbahce manager Dick Advocaat put Kjaer out of his misery at half-time and replaced him. Four minutes into the new half and United struck again, the same combination of Pogba, Rooney and Lingard as it was for the third goal. This time Lingard hit a nicely judged right foot shot from the edge of the area that beat the goalkeeper Volkan Demirel past his right hand.
Van Persie’s goal was forced in from close range from the cross of Emmanuel Emenike and the applause grew around the ground as the home support recognised that it was their once great centre-forward who had done the business. Certainly the Dutchman seemed touched by the reception he was given
That's van Persie's ripped shirt form earlier and here's Big Sam and Sir Alex:
It's the goal we all knew was coming. Fosu-Mensah doesn't do anywhere near enough on the right to stop the cross and Van Persie takes advantage of slack/lazy defending.
Memphis tries to shield the ball out for a throw, loses control. Fosu-Mensah rescues him with a great bit of defending. Then, in a bid to make it up for his mistake, Memphis dribbles into the penalty area past two defenders then knocks it straight at the keeper from a tight angle.
HAVENT SEEN A GOOD CELEBRATION IN A WHILE & Moe. (@NoLaughingMata)
They should be banned from football forever. Definitely more of a crime than when Di Canio shoved the ref.
Manchester United: Have scored as many penalties in the last 3 minutes (2) as they had in their last 29 matches combined &
(@WhoScored)
That is Pogba's second ever United goal - he scored one against Leicester back in the day. The midfielder does a really cringe worthy, gross stuttering step up to the penalty but buries it in the bottom corner. And that is after the keeper spent 2 minutes playing MIND GAMES.
He was booked for doing this.
The crowd are starting to get antsy now. The defending on show is excellent and the longer this goes on the more vulnerable to the counter-attack you fancy United might be. Pogba has just played a beautiful 50 yard pass down the right for Darmian, who completely overhit his cross.
United have Fenerbahce pinned back here but are finding it really difficult to open them up.
Martin Skrtel is wearing a mask today to help complete the look of the villain. His evil plan is to eradicate all of the vowels from his name.
Van Persie is doing his stretches and practising his goal celebrations.
There he is. The silver fox.
12 years ago,
burst onto the scene at Old Trafford with a dream debut against .
& BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball)
&It will be a special occasion and a special game for me,& he told MUTV.
&I know Manchester United want to be in the Champions League, but it is how it is now and for me it is a very special group in the Europa League. In the last match I had a game against one of my first teams, Feyenoord, and next it’s United. I am looking forward to it.
&I am now playing for Fenerbahce and I want to do well for my team but of course it will be special to play 'at home' [Old Trafford] in a great stadium with great fans against a great team.
&It will be tough for us. United are the favourites, but you never know what will happen. In general I am looking forward to a nice evening and enjoying the whole experience.&
Old Trafford will be the venue for Manchester United's third Europa League of the season
Where is it?
United's third match in their Europa League campaign is at Old Trafford.
The game comes just under month after
to claim their first points in group A.
Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho before Manchester United's 1-0 win over Zorya
What TV channel is it on?
Fenerbahce's trip to Manchester United heralds the return of former striker , and you can watch the Dutchman's Old Trafford homecoming on BT Sport 2 from 7:30pm.
The match will also be available on BT Sport Showcase, which is free for BT internet customers.
BT will broadcast the game live
What are they saying?
Jose Mourinho has insisted he will field a strong side at Old Trafford, despite the game coming sandwiched between games against Liverpool and Chelsea on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho during Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Liverpool
&It's a very difficult week for us. Monday, Thursday, S Liverpool, Fenerbahce, Chelsea. It's a special week. We have to be ready,& he said.
&I don't want to give you the team. Sometimes I do, but this time, no.
&If we play with a team that is not good and strong, we won't have a chance. We will play a really good team knowing two days later we have to play again.&
The return of RVP
Robin van Persie is set to play his first game in England since he was sold to Fenerbahce in 2015.
After arriving from Arsenal in 2012, Robin van Persie scored 30 goals in his first season at Manchester United to help guide the club to their most recent Premier League title win, and their last under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Robin van Persie in action for Fenerbahce
The Dutch striker has admitted he will relish the opportunity to play at the Theatre of Dreams once again.
&It will be a special occasion and a special game for me,& the 33-year-old told MUTV.
&In the last match I had a game against one of my first teams, Feyenoord, and next it's United. I am looking forward to it.
&It will be tough for us. United are the favourites, but you never know what will happen.&
Robin van Persie won the Premier League title whilst at Manchester United
Manchester United's ?26m summer signing, Heinrikh Mkhitaryan, is hoping to kickstart his career following a disappointing start to life in England.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has barely featured for Manchester United
Getty Images
The Armenian has been limited to a handful of appearances since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund and hopes Thursday's game against Fenerbahce could help him to re-find his form.
Manager Jose Mourinho has backed the former Dortmund playmaker to start proving himself after recovering from injury.
“He was injured for quite a long time,” said Mourinho.
“Now he is not injured any more. He has been training with the team without any limitation. I cannot confirm if he plays tomorrow. Now he is fit and now it is time for him to go back to the levels we know he can achieve.”请输入您的账户名和密码