5 superstars who are causing tactical problems to their managers

#3 Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League

For the first few seasons since Paul Pogba returned to Manchester United, he was their talismanic player. The Old Trafford faithful had seen flashes of genius from the midfielder but not much beyond that. Every subsequent summer there were discussions over who Manchester United should sign to 'unlock' Pogba.

But over the course of the past two seasons it has become clear that Pogba's defensive abilities are substandard. He is simply not cut out to play in a double midfield pivot in the Premier League.

His spatial awareness in the center of the park leaves much to be desired and the Red Devils look extremely vulnerable in defence when Pogba starts in midfield. He is also not the quickest player on the pitch which makes him awful at making recoveries.

Pogba also gets regularly dispossessed in midfield despite his strength and dribbling skills. Solskjaer even shifted Pogba to an attacking role. The 28-year-old did register four assists in United's Premier League opener against Leeds United but it was more of a one-off.

Pogba's lack of pace hampers Manchester United's pace on the counter. He is also effective as a wide forward when the Red Devils go up against teams whose full-backs start high up the pitch. Pogba is also not as effective as Bruno Fernandes in the number 10 role and he simply cannot displace the latter in the starting lineup.

As such, accommodating Paul Pogba to the system is an arduous task right now.

#2 Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain)

Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Lionel Messi has been one of the most prolific goalscorers on the planet. However, since joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, we haven't seen him at his best. He has contributed to his own problems at PSG. At Barcelona, Messi could afford to be a passenger in defensive transitions because the team was built around him.

The rest of the players were willing to put in the defensive work to help the team out when they were not in possession. The problem at PSG is that Mauricio Pochettino has three of these players in Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Messi. All three players are effectively passengers when the team is in defensive transition.

Messi is 34-years-old now and it's understandable that he has to save his energy for those moments where he can affect games. He is capable of making the most of such moments but it comes at a cost to PSG.

The solution is not to play all three of these players together. But with the world viewing all three players as undroppable world-class talents, although it might seem simple on paper, it's the farthest thing from it.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Villarreal CF v Manchester United: Group F - UEFA Champions League

While analyzing Manchester United's 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League in midweek, Thierry Henry summed up Cristiano Ronaldo's problems at Manchester United. He said:

"When your poison is your medicine you will struggle."

After seeing the first few matches with Ronaldo in the side, it was clear that the club had shot themselves in the foot by signing him. Solskjaer's team were so effective in attack last season purely because of the fluidity in attack. With Ronaldo starting almost every game, United have become rigid up top.

Of course, the Portuguese talisman has the ability to make the most out of the limited number of chances he gets. But that's as far as he will get you. He does not press and this means that Manchester United become extremely unorganized when they are in a defensive transition.

The sweeping counter attacks which had become a characteristic feature of this Manchester United side are no longer very effective. This is because the wide forwards do not have the freedom to drift in like they used to in the past.

Ronaldo almost always occupies the space in the center and doesn't let the likes of Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood to have much of a sight on goal