Mata was equally happy to be back in the starting XI after boss Jose Mourinho chose to drop striker Wayne Rooney and go with a more fluid line-up.
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Paul Pogba was the artist, orchestrator, and mastermind behind Manchester United’s dismantling of defending Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday, in a performance which signified just how good the Frenchman is without captain Wayne Rooney in the team.
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Jose Mourinho caused a stir by dropping out-of-sorts captain Rooney to the bench, though he stuck with the same 4-2-3-1 system, with Pogba – who has also faced criticism – excelling in a deeper role alongside Ander Herrera.
Manchester United beat Leicester City 4-1 at Old Trafford in a ideal performance with all four goals coming in a resurgent period in twenty minutes.
Chris Smalling has backed Wayne Rooney to soon return to the Manchester United starting XI after being dropped.
“It’s very unusual because the first 20 minutes we started well, moved the ball quickly and put them under pressure”, Ranieri said.
Rooney watched United’s rampant first half display from the sideline as Juan Mata was preferred in the position behind the striker.
“I don’t know [if it was Pogba’s best game] I think he played okay against Southampton, he played okay against Hull City”, said Mourinho, who opened his Manchester United account with his side’s fourth goal. We were very focused and we produced a big performance on the pitch.
Mourinho said Friday that his captain had not been the same player since he was criticized for his display for England against Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier in early September. The result was a Manchester United team that looked the best it has all season, thrashing Leicester, 4-1.
“We played the way we wanted to play and played really well”. “I have nothing else to say, he is my man”.
“Rooney politely applauded back when he was sent out to warm up for the first time, and the home fans’ reception was enthusiastic when he ran on to the field after replacing Rashford near the end”. I trust him completely.
‘We all want more from him and from the team.
“Because I know the rules of the game”.
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“He was the same, as in before the game when we’re all getting ready, ” the defender said of Rooney.
