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Love him or hate him, Paul Pogba is one of the top footballers in world football. He is an epitome of a proper midfielder and has a good blend of physique, size, speed and technical ability. A lot of talk over the last few seasons has revolved around his sideshows and off pitch antics including flashy haircuts.
The spotlight has always been on him at Manchester United given his world record transfer fee in 2016. Whenever he did not perform, various quarters were on his neck and said he was not worth a penny spent to get him. The situation escalated last season when he was dropped from the first team by United boss Jose Mourinho.
This was the genesis of what was to be a bittersweet relationship with the Portuguese manager. The situation spiralled over to the recent summer transfer market. It was widely reported that Barcelona representatives were monitoring his situation about a potential move.
Don't get it wrong because Pogba came to United on the back of some rich history. He was instrumental in helping Juventus lift four consecutive Serie A titles plus other domestic cups. It came as to no surprise that he attracted such a tidy sum. However, since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United have time and again been forced to pay top dollar for their signings.
There are moments when Pogba stepped up to the plate and showed the world that he is worth every cent that was spent on his services. His input was crucial as United grabbed the win and ultimately silenced the opposition.
#3 Manchester United vs Spurs (FA Cup)
In April 2018, United faced Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Spurs were the favourites given that Wembley was being used as their unofficial home stadium all season. Also, earlier on in the season, they had put United to the sword with a 2-0 win in the league.
Pogba was again over the spot as it was during that period that he was not the assured starter he had always been. A few decent performances prior to the game secured his place in the starting line up. Spurs took the lead in the 11th minute courtesy of Dele Alli after much dominance.
United needed a response from somewhere to dig themselves out from the jaws of defeat. In the 24th minute, Pogba took matters into his own hands. He shrugged Mousa Dembele off the ball on the left flank and delivered a sumptuous cross for the 1.69m Alexis Sanchez to score the equaliser.
United went on to win 2-1 and reached the final, in what turned out to be one his finest performances in a red shirt.
#2 Arsenal v Manchester United (League, 2017)
The Emirates was a hostile environment for United when they visited in December 2017. This was in the Premier League. The atmosphere and possession play favoured the hosts by a long shot.
United opened the scoring in an unexpected timing. In the fourth minute, Pogba was involved in a lovely exchange of passes with Antonio Valencia. He drew three players to his path before setting up Valencia who rifled home the opener.
In the 63rd minute, he initiated a counter-attack with Jesse Lingard. Pogba sprinted to the right side of the pitch and just glided past central defender Laurent Koscielny to set up Lingard for a simple tap in. United picked up all three points at the Emirates after a 3-1 win.
The 3-1 scoreline might flatter the United fans but it was Arsenal who were utterly dominant that day. The Gunners had 33 shots that day and only a De Gea masterclass saved United from being smashed. This is where Pogba showcased his quality.
Whatever little United could attack, the Frenchman made sure that those attacks won't be wasted and that is why it was one his finest performances till date.
#1 Manchester derby (2018)
On April 10, 2018, United faced neighbours Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. This is a venue that Citizens had made into a fortress for most of the season. They were on the verge of clinching the title and could do so with a win against their hated rivals.
As expected, the Red Devils were overrun from the start and conceded two first-half goals through Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan. Pogba initiated a brave comeback in the second half. In the 53rd minute, he pounced on Ander Herrera's chested ball to slot home past Ederson.
Barely two minutes later, he timed his run into the box, leapt, adjusted his body to head home the equaliser from Sanchez's cross. United went on to seal a dramatic 3-2 win and halted City's title celebrations at the time.
