Whenever Manchester United are struggling, Paul Pogba tends to take the brunt of the criticism.
That’s arguably understandable, given the Frenchman’s hefty price-tag, but it is undoubtedly a running theme for a man who has shown plenty of good as well as bad during his second spell at Old Trafford.
Pogba had a quiet first hour during United’s EFL Cup second leg tie at Hull, with the visitors going behind to a contentious Tom Huddlestone penalty.
Even the neutrals were confused by it https://t.co/HbZolWF18R
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 26, 2017
With things not really picking up after the break, attention turned to Pogba, who wasn’t making a great deal of an impact.
Indeed, a fair few people pointed out the former Juventus man’s struggles.
Dismal half from #mufc. Any of Smalling, Pogba, Carrick, Lingard or Darmian could be subbed.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) January 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/ManUnited_CTTG/status/824717846404030464
Is Pogba playing tonight? #MUFC
— Tom Swabey (@TomSwabey) January 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/SimonDelaneyEsq/status/824715724472066048
Pogba has been absolutely rubbish
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) January 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/Debaser92/status/824724517914304512
Pogba so far done next to nowt…
— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) January 26, 2017
Of course, people should know by now that ‘people talking about him on the internet’ is the secret ingredient Pogba needs to kick into gear.
Sure enough, just minutes later – or indeed seconds, in one case – he did this.
Paul Pogba levels! Are Hull's Wembley dreams over? SS1 now. https://t.co/ZLZQaidXGe
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 26, 2017
Who knew that’s all it would take to get him firing again?
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
