Manchester United’s legend Gary Neville believes that the absence of Paul Pogba has played a big part in the defeat of the Red Devils against Manchester City on Sunday. Paul Pogba missed the Manchester Derby with an injury problem. The absence of the star footballer of Manchester United ruled out all the chances of the Red Devils to win the ‘Manchester Derby’.
After the end of the match on Sunday, Gary Neville told,
“United’s midfield could not pass the ball forward,”
“You’re not going to win Premier League titles, and the front three don’t have the precision and ruthlessness as say Liverpool’s front three or City’s front three.
“United in all parts of the pitch are behind the other teams that are going for the title so to think about comparing them is unfair because they are nowhere near.
“Pogba is the one player who thinks he can play in any stadium in the world and any pitch in the world in front of any player in the world and take them on.
“He believes in himself which is a great quality to have, and should never be underestimated to be carry that through the scrutiny that he has, the criticism that he has, the price tag, he still carries that weight in the team and the team look towards him. He can carry the ball and he can play the pass. The rest look to him.
“I thought United were in deep trouble when I found out he wasn’t playing, a midfield of (Nemanja) Matic, Fellaini and (Ander) Herrera I was thinking how are they going to get the ball through midfield and transfer it.
“It was never going to happen, I didn’t see how it was going to happen without him.”
Manchester City are going through a great run of form in this season and it is seeming that no other side in this Premier League can beat them. Without Paul Pogba, the defeat was inevitable for Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. That’s why Jose Mourinho also tried to find out the positive sides of this heavy defeat in the post match conference.