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Ian Wright

Manchester United fans can be forgiven for expecting more from Paul Pogba… now is his time to shine

The £89million Old Trafford midfielder has not stood out often enough since his world-record transfer in the summer

Paul Pogba has not delivered what his price tag promised and must now perform

PAUL POGBA is a top-class player, no question.

He showed it in some of his early games for Manchester United, like his debut against Southampton.

Paul Pogba has not delivered what his price tag promised and must now perform
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Paul Pogba has not delivered what his price tag promised and must now performCredit: Getty Images
SunSport columnist and Arsenal legend Ian Wright says now is the time for Paul Pogba to shine
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SunSport columnist Ian Wright says now is the time for Paul Pogba to shineCredit: PA:Press Association

But since then, he has not stood out often enough and you can forgive United supporters if they expected a little bit more.


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Yes, he got two goals against Fenerbahce, but what about the big games against Liverpool and Chelsea? You want your top players to show up on those occasions.

There’s no way I would look to leave Pogba out, though.

Paul Pogba was unable to inspire Manchester United to victory against Chelsea
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Paul Pogba was unable to inspire Manchester United to victory against ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association
Paul Pogba reminds Ian Wright of Mesut Ozil when he first joined Arsenal
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Paul Pogba reminds Ian Wright of Mesut Ozil when he first joined ArsenalCredit: EPA

To me, there are similarities to Mesut Ozil when he first arrived at Arsenal and struggled.

So get players around him to give Pogba the ball, channel the play through him.

I believe it won’t be long before things click for Pogba and he becomes one of the best players in the league.

It’s just a case of using him the right way.

There needs to be a bit of patience with him  . . . but that’s in short supply when you cost £89million.
Patience is needed across the board because United are in transition.

They have had three managers since Alex Ferguson retired and Jose Mourinho needs time. It was a worrying day for him on his return to the Bridge but I don’t really buy this excuse that United were tired after three games in a week.

One was at Liverpool — which is only 35 miles down the road — and another was at home to Fenerbahce.

So it’s not like they’ve been off travelling the globe.

Too many of United’s players did not look up for it and that will be one of the biggest worries for Mourinho.

Should Zlatan Ibrahimovic now be dropped after Manchester United's disaster against Chelsea?
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Should Zlatan Ibrahimovic now be dropped after Manchester United's disaster against Chelsea? The 35-year-old  striker needs to stand up and be countedCredit: EPA
In England you need more than a five minute flash in the pan of brilliance to succeed
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In England you need more than a five minute flash in the pan of brillianceCredit: Reuters
Jose Mourinho saw his Manchester United side thrashed 4-0 at Chelsea
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Jose Mourinho saw his Manchester United side thrashed 4-0 at ChelseaCredit: Reuters

Blame him all you want, but United’s players need to do more.

When Wayne Rooney was going through a tough time earlier in the season, the calls to leave him out were deafening.

So will those same people now be calling for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be dropped after United’s disastrous 4-0 defeat at Chelsea?

United need Zlatan to stand up and be counted. He’s 35 and must realise there will be no easy games in England like there were in France or Italy, where you can be something of a flat-track bully.

Here, you need more than just a five-minute flash of brilliance when you feel like it.

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