After United's defeat to Leicester City, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has publicly stated that changes will be made, which is considered a sign that he is going to abandon some of the main players. Pogba in midfield may bear the brunt of it, and he and Bruno Fernandez may only have one to start.
The fiasco against Leicester City will completely shatter the manager's ideal pre-season plan: the introduction of a new centre-back and the addition of an attacking midfielder. At the time, many British media predicted that Varane's arrival would make Pogba partner McTomine a double back, so that an attacking player could be added to the front.
Sadly, reality brutally shatters this tactic that can only be used in "Fantasy Soccer" or "Soccer Manager" games. This season, after Manchester United added frontcourt personnel, although they made a good start and had good results at one point, the scene was actually quite ugly, before Leicester City played the Red Devils defense, Southampton, Wolves, West Ham and even Newcastle, all had turned the tide in the midfield of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's squad and directly faced De Gea.
Leicester City only managed to better grasp the opportunity to appear in the game, giving Manchester United a belated defeat. Even if United get away with it, in the next round against Liverpool, Klopp's attacking group will give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a head-on blow. The data shows that among the Premier League teams, Leicester City and Liverpool are the teams that are the best at attacking quickly, and they are also the most feared ways for Manchester United to play.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dreamed of letting Manchester United play high, but because of the characteristics of his disciples such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Mason Greenwood, Sancho, Bruno Fernandez, Rashford and Martial, as long as the other side broke through the Red Devils' front and came to the midfield, they could cross the prairie and find countless gaps. Among United's strikers, perhaps only Cavani's defensive commitment and ability can match the needs of high-level pressing tactics.
And if there is a Pogba on the back, plus the offensive and defensive full-back Luke Shaw, the Manchester United midfield is really focused on defense, there are only 4 players, Varane and Maguire's center-back partner, whether the defensive back in front of them is Matic, McTomine or Fred, it is difficult to stop the opponent's counterattack.
Assuming that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used Manchester United as a line-up for Leicester City to meet Liverpool, facing the attacks of Salah, Mane, Firmino, Arnold and others, the Red Devils may not be able to escape another fiasco. Don't look at the British media now that manchester United executives still firmly support the boss, this position may change at any time. There were also reports that he would not be out of school before Mourinho lost to Liverpool, but the Madman was fired just a day after Anfield's 3-1 defeat.
In the battle that led to Uncle Bird's dismissal, Manchester United equalized at one point, but finally lost the ball due to three unfortunate refractions. And if the manager loses to Liverpool at Old Trafford, the pressure will be unprecedented.
After losing to the Blue Foxes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pointed out that The Manchester United midfielders had too many holes, and while he did not directly blame the midfielders as usual, it is a clear fact that Nemanja Matic and Pogba were suppressed by the Leicester City midfielder, who lacked Ndidi. Tillemans played well, scoring a goal and creating multiple threats. Rogers said: "The opposing midfielders don't press at all, so we can patiently organize forward through the midfield."
The manager has used seven different midfield combinations this season, but the one that reassures him the most is the much-questioned McTominega Fred.
"Our middle road is too easy to penetrate." Solskjaer said, "I'm not saying it's all because of Nemanja (Nemanja Matic) and Paul (Pogba), it's a whole team problem. We need to be tighter and more aggressive, and while we have controlled our opponent's intention to cut into the gap behind us, we have retreated too deeply and given our opponent too much space. That's a whole team problem, not just Paul and Nemania. I agree with United's defence not good enough."
Pogba also said after the game that it was inevitable to play and lose, and the team needed to make changes and find new tactics. But interestingly, Pogba himself could be a victim of the change for Manchester United and solskjaer. Just as Louis van Gaal, after being reversed 3-5 by Leicester City, has since stopped letting the "picturesque frontcourt" attacking superstars join forces, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will certainly let the "McFred" combination play as a backside when facing strong teams such as Liverpool and Manchester City.
United need their mobility and tactical discipline to compete against the best midfielders in Europe, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can only accept the weak position and return to the counter-attack style he is best at, which is also a tactic that Liverpool and Manchester City fear more.
Rashford's comeback goal will prevent Pogba from returning to the left side of the season's cameo. In the right winger position, Mason Greenwood, who has recently indulged in a kick in Neymar, is also at risk of losing his position, fortunately, the fast horse Daniel James, who is more defensively conscious, has left the team, and the possibility of Aoki continuing to start is not small.