Ben Green
After three disappointing seasons post-Sir Alex Ferguson Era, United’s hierarchy decided to bring in Jose Mourinho to turn the tide at Old Trafford. The Special One did have a fantastic start to the season but currently finds his team at the 6 spots, eight points behind league leaders, Liverpool. Mourinho has been brought in to win back the Premier League trophy and for this, he was given a big spending budget in the summer, which he utilised to get quality players like Bailly and Mkhitaryan, while also spending a world record sum to bring back former United player Paul Pogba. The 23-year-old has been in fantastic touch over the past few seasons, his contribution in Juventus winning back to back Italian Serie A was considerable.
While United were working towards a deal to finalize Pogba’s transfer, their city rivals were working their own magic to bring in one of Bundesliga’s best players from last season, Ilkay Gundogan from German giants Borussia Dortmund. There’s a difference of £70m between the two players transfer fees but going on current form, the difference between the impact they have had on their respective teams is very fine. Though Pogba did score that stunner last weekend against Swansea City, it would be fair to say that he hasn’t had the effect many United faithful’s imagined the day his return was sealed.
He has looked lethargic, confused going alone and there is hardly any conviction in his play. His off the field life seems to take up more space in a tabloid then his on field antics. Gundogan, on the other hand, has had a far better start. Guardiola who has worked with midfield magicians like Xavi, Iniesta and Alonso, decided to make the German international his first signing as the Manchester City manager. Gundogan’s transfer fee was in the region of £21m, a bargain nowadays given the exorbitant money clubs are paying to get their desired players. Although his injury record is a little doubtful, one must not question the quality he brings to the team.
Gundogan’s 92% pass completion rate clearly outshines Pogba’s 86%and his ability to ghost into the box is something that is very crucial to the free flowing football City play nowadays. Pogba has some glimpses of his exceptional talent but the consistency in his game is still missing, something he must work hard on, if he wants to achieve the top individual honour, like many have tipped him to do. It might take Pogba sometime to get used to his new surrounding but with such a big price tag on his head, time is quickly running out for him.
Expectations are sky high from Pogba and maybe this is the reason he trying too hard to prove himself. In that process, he has picked up more cautions than his counterpart and is also behind the German in goal-scoring and assisting tally. Pogba so far has scored two goals in the Premier League, while Gundogan has scored three and the worst thing is; Pogba has played 900 minutes, while Gundogan has played 522 minutes.
Pogba’s overcommitment can be easily seen as he averages 3.3 shots per game while Gundogan averages just 2. But the Frenchman easily outnumbers the German in defending as he wins almost 3 aerial duels per game, while Gundogan hardly manages to do so. Pogba may have won two man of the match awards so far, but he is yet to hit those strides United fans are expecting from him.
