In his new column, Australian journalist Matthew Galea runs the rule over the week that was for Manchester United, with a firm eye on the action to come.
Manchester United put on a show for the return of capacity crowds at Old Trafford in their Premier League opener, whilst we also ponder if Paul Pogba’s brilliance will leave a bittersweet taste this season.
Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa – A Match Made in Old Trafford Heaven?
The day really could not have gone any more perfectly.
From the refreshing – and perfect – formal announcement of Raphael Varane’s arrival at Manchester United with an intimate introduction to the capacity Old Trafford crowd, to the brilliant performance that followed, United’s opening day 5-1 win over old rivals Leeds United was the best possible return to competitive football.
Even from 17,000 kilometres away on my couch in Melbourne, it was hard not get swept up in the noise and emotion emanating from the stands.
As people around the globe battled with the seemingly never-ending COVID19 pandemic (we’re still in lockdown in Melbourne), football has felt in many ways unimportant.
At its worst, it’s felt soulless, not least because of the empty stands and the pitiful way the mega-clubs of the world, United included, gambled on the future of the game for their own self-serving benefit.
However, with fans back in the stands and the perfect call to capitalise on the delayed conclusion of the Varane deal to keep his presentation for the adoring fans who finally resumed their rightful place as the heart and soul of this club, suddenly all seemed right in the world.
And that’s before we get to the best part…
The opponent? Leeds United and their famously stubborn manager, Marcelo Bielsa.
The Premier League fixture really could not have delivered Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his men a more perfect match for their opening fixture of the season.
Surely, there is no other team in the Premier League that the Red Devils would rather play than Leeds.
Bielsa’s insistence on man-marking, even without his best and most disciplined midfielder in Kalvin Phillips was a recipe for disaster for Leeds, and Manchester’s incredibly fluid front four and midfield two proved far too much for Bielsa’s system to cope with.
And with an in-form Pogba supplying the ammunition and playing arguably the best game of his career at Old Trafford, it was no wonder United won by such an emphatic score line.
That’s not to take anything away from United. They were brilliant, and the level of finishing on display was incredible. From Greenwood’s arrowed finish into the far post to put United back in the lead, through to the sumptuous Fernandes finish to seal his hat-trick, the way in which the Red Devils punished Leeds was a joy to behold.
But with the sobering effect of time, it’s fair to say that in the Premier League, there is not a team more perfectly matched to United’s strengths than Leeds United and far tougher tests lie ahead.
This weekend’s trip to Southampton might not rank as one of the toughest tests United will face in the Premier League, but with the return of hostile away crowds awaiting Solskjaer’s men, it will be very interesting to see if United can maintain its impressive away form from last season.
Southampton certainly will look to limit the space United have to exploit in the final third – unlike Leeds’ seeming willingness to provide it – and it is these tests that United will need to routinely pass to prove its Premiership credentials.
Why Pogba brilliance could be bittersweet this season
The better Pogba plays, the greater the sense of frustration seems to be with him.
Simply unplayable on his day, when the Frenchman delivers like he did at Old Trafford last week, the lingering question always seems to be why can he not string five or six games at that level for United?
The focus on Pogba over the coming weeks will be particularly intense in the coming weeks, with reports of a new contract – one which would make him the highest-paid players at the club – on the table.
With Pogba in his final year of his contract, it’s a sensitive issue for the club to resolve.
To lose him for nothing would be criminal, but the reality is that Pogba – and his agent, Mino Raiola – hold the keys.
And the better Pogba plays, the greater his power.
The reality is that any prospect of United winning the title this year relies heavily on Pogba being at his best more often than not.
For that reason, he simply must be a significant part of Solskjaer’s short-term plans, even if the midfielder does decide his future lies elsewhere.
That means cashing in on Pogba in this window is impossible, particularly with PSG – his only likely destination – completing the signing of Lionel Messi.
The salary PSG would be able to offer Pogba next season could well be even greater than the reported £400,000 per week on offer at United, especially if they don’t have to pay a transfer fee.
In that way, brilliant Pogba performances – such as that served up against Leeds – could leave something of a bittersweet taste in the mouths of United supporters collectively until there is greater clarity around his future.
