Neville: Pogba 'cameo of three months of brilliance' can fire Man Utd to title

Published on: 18 January 2021

Paul Pogba hitting top form could fire Manchester United to the Premier League title, believes Gary Neville.

The Frenchman has fought his way back into the team recently and is beginning to perform well for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

Neville thinks the World-Cup winner is the kind of player who can raise levels of belief for those around him and make the difference in the title race.

He said on his podcast: 'I think Manchester United's chances of winning this league are slim - Liverpool and Man City are still the best two teams in this league.

'But the slim chance they have to win this league will depend on something like Paul Pogba delivering a cameo of two or three months of brilliance, which he is capable of.

'He's got confidence, he's got arrogance - good arrogance, in a sense that he believes in himself.

'He thinks he should be playing in the biggest games in the world, and winning titles, and thinking positive thoughts, thinking you're the best is a big thing when you're looking to win.

'Just in that last 20 minutes, I felt United just had that little bit of missing belief. It's not a long way away, but that's the bit that will stop them winning the title.'

Pogba missed one of the best chances in the game against Liverpool in Sunday's stalemate.

Afterwards, Roy Keane reflected on Sky Sports that the midfielder missed the chance to be the main man.

He said: 'You can tell by his (Pogba's) reaction. The first touch is excellent but oh my God. He has to score. Go across the goalkeeper, he can do that (looking at the defender).

'His first touch was so good, he's given himself the opportunity to go across. But credit to the goalkeeper, he stood up and made himself big. That was the chance you were praying for before the game.

'You can't say Liverpool are playing badly but they've lost their spark. When you get opportunities like Pogba's, (you must be) so disappointed. We gave him a big build-up and that was the moment for him to be the main man, you have to take that chance. I won't be too critical of United.'

Neville was more forgiving of Pogba's performance as a whole at Anfield as he was put out of position.

He added: 'I thought it was tough for him on Sunday. I've seen it over the years, where Sir Alex Ferguson had to put Wayne Rooney or Danny Welbeck out on that right-hand side, and it's not easy when you don't play there, to play there.

'It's easier to come off the left onto your right and slip inside, but it's not natural for them on that right wing, so I thought he was given a tough gig on Sunday in terms of his natural position.

'If you asked Paul Pogba: you can play any position in midfield or any up front, that's the one he wouldn't pick, right of midfield. I didn't criticise his performance at Anfield because I thought it was a tough gig - the same with Rashford, who prefers to play on the left - but I do think he can have a big influence on United.'

The draw at Anfield means United remain three points ahead of Liverpool, two ahead of Leicester and two ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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