Wayne Rooney watched from the Manchester United bench as Paul Pogba inspired a 4-1 dismantling of champions Leicester City in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
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The Foxes got a consolation in the second half through a lovely curling header by Demarai Gray, but it was a goal that hardly bothered United players as they kept the ball to themselves to run out comfortable winners.
Two goals from the returning Sergio Aguero, and a third from Raheem Sterling, left City with the maximum 18 points from six league games and continued their 100 per cent record since Guardiola’s appointment.
Pogba delivered a disguised chip over the top to Ibrahimovic who volleyed over, fired in a dipping 35-yarder that was well saved by Ron-Robert Zieler, and sliced through a pass that freed Antonio Valencia. But Rashford’s first touch was heavy and his shot flew over.
Two goals from Jermain Defoe gave them a promising lead, but Joe Ledley scored for Palace in the 61st minute, nearly immediately after Defoe’s second. I think him and Ander (Herrera) were both good in midfield.
In the end, one of those that came on scored Leicester’s goal. Chris Smalling broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute of the match, scoring from a Daley Blind corner, with the Dutchman grabbing the assist, his first of the day.
The Red Devils were already 4-0 up at half-time. Fuchs wasted the chance, however, with a poor cross.
At the other end, the Foxes were looking unsafe on the counter attack.
But was Mourinho’s decision to drop the player to the bench a tactical one, or the media influencing the Portuguese’s coaches hand?
Rooney teed up Rashford for United’s dramatic added-time victor in a 1-0 victory over Hull City at the KCOM Stadium last month. The second half nobody was expecting four more goals so it was more about control.
Gray then went within a whisker of replicating his stunning goal with an nearly identical effort which De Gea scrambled back to push over the bar.
It worked, with United’s front players tearing Leicester apart in the first half, including a spell of three goals in five minutes.
But the 23-year-old France midfielder was on the scoresheet at last in the 42nd minute at Old Trafford.
United’s next opponent is FC Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine on Thursday night in the UEFA Europa League. “I have nothing left to say”. “I hope that is not going to be the last”, Pogba said. He has also scored 246 times for United and needs four more goals to surpass Bobby Charlton as the club’s record scorer.
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Regarding the criticism before the game, Pogba delivered a stinging response, saying “I never look at the newspapers”.
