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Manchester United are on a roll since the end of last year. Ever since the upper management decided to part ways with Mourinho and appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his successor, United have overseen a drastic change in their fortune. In around 2 months since taking over, the Norwegian has taken United from 6th to 4th in the league, a feat that looked impossible under the reign of Mourinho.
However, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Manchester United look a better side, are playing wonderful attacking football and have lost just 1 game - against PSG - in that period. They are unbeaten in the league and have progressed to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Much of the credit goes to Solskjaer, who has transformed the club with one swing of his magic band.
The Norwegian has managed to get the best out of the superstars in his team, who have all responded well to his tactics. However, it is clear that Paul Pogba is the heart of Solskjaer's team. The Frenchman has been given unlimited license by his manager, and Pogba has been brilliant so far for United. Today, we look at 5 reasons why he is currently the best midfielder in the Premier League.
All stats are courtesy of the official Premier League Website and Transfermarkt
#5 Qualities on the ball
The first impression Paul Pogba generates is that of a midfield enforcer, however, the Frenchman is more of a ball player. Much of the good work done by Pogba has occurred when he has the ball because he is full of tricks and skills that keep the opposition at their toes.
The Frenchman has a beautiful first touch and it seems to have improved under Solskjaer recently. Once he has the ball at his feet, he has unlimited skills in his repertoire to apply as per the situation demands. Pogba is extremely capable of beating the first man by his ball control and very few midfielders in the Premier League and even the world are blessed with such skills right now.
He was previously guilty of being too casual and showboating too often, but under Solskjaer's guidance, Pogba has cut down on the presentation and has worked on the performance instead. And it has worked wonders for him as well as for his team.
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#4 Ability to inspire the whole team
Every big football team in the world needs a champion in their ranks. They need someone who can inspire the whole team on their own, a winner who can turn the tides in their team's favor in an instant.
On off days, when nothing seems to work, they need a hero who can generate that one spark which ignites the team. Manchester United have needed inspiration quite often this season, and in recent times, Paul Pogba has taken the responsibilities of picking his team up.
Freed from the burdens of defending, the Frenchman has been the creative spark in the Manchester United team of late. Every time he has the ball, it looks like he could make something happen. With one turn or one cross-field ball, he has often shifted the balance of the tie and this season, no one team has witnessed such a figure in their ranks.
#3 Passing range
Only Nemanja Matic has more passes than Paul Pogba for Manchester United, and no creative midfielder has registered more passes than the Frenchman in the Premier League so far. But, it is also the range of the Frenchman that sets him apart from the competition.
Very few midfielders in the Premier League are as comfortable playing both long and short balls as the Frenchman. He is equally effective in quick one-twos near the opposition box, as well as sending accurate long balls at the feet of his forward men.
Ever since Solskjaer took over and allowed Pogba to function in a free role, the Frenchman's ability to pick a pass has made all the difference to his team. Relieved of all the burdens of tracking back and defending, Pogba has concentrated on his attacking instincts. While his short passing has been commendable, it is his cross-field balls which have torn the opposition on many occasions.
Last season, Pogba completed 110 accurate long balls from 27 games in the Premier League. This time, he already has 115 from 23 appearances. None of the other midfielders come even close to him in this category.
#2 Assists
The Frenchman has registered 8 assists in the Premier League and 10 in all competitions from 32 games. Among the midfielders, only Christian Eriksen of Tottenham and Ryan Fraser of Bournemouth have managed more, but while the former plays mostly as an attacking midfielder, the latter is going through a loss of form of late. As such, it is hard to deny that Pogba's ability to set his teammates up is second to none in the Premier League right now.
Last season, Pogba finished with 10 assists from 27 appearances in the league, and 12 in total from 37 appearances in all competitions, so the Frenchman is yet to better his returns. However, considering the kind of form that he is in right now, Pogba appears to be going through his best season ever by May this year.
Pogba has 6 assists from 12 games ever since Solskjaer took over, and it is clear that his new found freedom has brought the best out of him. His combination with Rashford, in particular, has been a treat to the eye and both of his assists against Leicester City and Tottenham can be watched a thousand times over.
#1 Goals
Last season, Pogba registered 6 goals from 27 matches. He registered 76 shots, 18 of which were on target. This season, the Frenchman has already found the net 11 times from 23 appearances in the Premier League. He has recorded 79 shots, 42 of which have been on target.
The Frenchman has drastically improved his goal-scoring form under Solskjaer reign, and none of the competition in the league comes close to him. Ever since the Norwegian took charge at United, Pogba has been directly involved in 15 goals in 12 appearances.
By adding a goal-scoring edge to his qualities this season, Pogba has proven all his doubters wrong. The Frenchman now has 14 goals this season from 32 games in all competitions and as such, is already looking like the goalscoring midfielder that his team desperately needed for a few seasons now.
