PSG beware! Man United duo Pogba
and Martial in the form of their lives
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side go into
Tuesday’s huge European clash with 10
wins in 11 after their French stars swept
Fulham aside at Craven Cottage
With Paris Saint-Germain ’s first-ever visit to Old
Trafford on the horizon, it seemed entirely fitting
that it should be Manchester United ’s French
connection who led them to a comfortable 3-0
victory at Fulham on Saturday which tees them up
perfectly for Tuesday’s Champions League crunch
clash.
Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial had the home
defence on high alert for long spells and, after
netting all three goals between them, they were
promptly given early hooks to ensure they are fit
and firing come the midweek.
Pogba’s brace means he has matched his previous
season-best goals return of eight in his last eight
games alone. Such has been his upturn in form
since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer succeeded Jose
Mourinho that the star midfielder has gone from
the supposed bad egg to an unplayable machine
Martial, too, has been a catalyst in United’s
transformation, revelling in the Norwegian’s thirst
for high-paced, high-intensity attacking football
and causing all sorts of issues for opposition
defences.
And it is not just the French pair having a fun time
of it.
United have now recorded eight wins in nine
league matches under Solskjaer as opposed to just
seven in their 17 games before Mourinho was fired
in December.
Nothing other than a United win ever looked likely
at Craven Cottage either.
After an uncertain first five minutes or so, a much-
changed United started to get a foothold in the
game, with Pogba and Martial in particular
beginning to exploit gaps in the Fulham defensive
structure.
And when they took the lead on 14 minutes, it was
no surprise that the two Frenchmen were involved.
Ander Herrera won the ball in an advanced
position and Martial fed Pogba, who drilled high
beyond a static Sergio Rico at the near post for his
seventh goal in just nine games.
Less than 10 minutes later it was Martial’s turn to
net, collecting Phil Jones’ clearing pass and
running straight at Maxime Le Marchand. After
evading both the centre-back and Denis Odoi with
neat footwork, he delivered a sublime side-foot
finish.
By this stage United had only had two attempts at
goal but had put distance between themselves and
their hosts.
And with Nemanja Matic, David de Gea, Chris
Smalling and Jones all being victims of careless
challenges at various points, Solskjaer would no
doubt have shaken hands on a 2-0 win there and
then with PSG heading for Manchester on Tuesday.
But they continued to go about their game with
professionalism as well as a drive for more goals,
and a third came just after the hour when Juan
Mata was fouled in the box and Pogba lashed
home his 13th goal in all competitions this term
from the spot to propel the visitors into the
Premier League ‘s top four for the first time since
the opening day of the season.
This might have been one of United’s more
straight-forward assignments so far since
Solskjaer’s arrival but the way in which they
summarily pick off opponents of Fulham’s level is
in stark contrast to what came before.
And that can only help when it comes to the task
ahead on Tuesday in M16.
PSG will be the biggest test yet of this new United,
but with the likes of Pogba and Martial playing at
the top of their games, they fear absolutely nobody
right now.
