“There is no doubt that a busy Paul Pogba at Manchester United can be a great player,” said Gary Neville about a week ago.
“It is up there with some of the best in its position in Europe. It is only the case to settle down.
“I think he’s the only real world-class player – David de Gea, I would have said two years ago – on the Manchester United team. That’s what should be leading from the front. “
Neville, the former United defender turned Sky Sports expert, is nothing but inconsistent. He claimed that De Gea was “the only world-class player that Manchester United has had” while speaking during the Jose Mourinho era in February 2018.
Much has changed since then, both for United and around the world.
The games are now regularly played behind closed doors due to a global pandemic, while two United players that Neville considered on the cusp of world-class status two and a half years ago – Alexis Sanchez and Antonio Valencia – are out of sight and out of head. Neither of them became world class at Old Trafford and both are well past their peak.
Of course, the definitions of the term “world class” may vary depending on who is judging. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer recently entered this debate when he claims that his current United team contains two world-class players in Pogba and Marcus Rashford.
“Even before the blockade we were in a strong series,” said the Norwegian after United’s 1-1 draw against Tottenham, the first game since the restart. “We are now able to invite world-class players like Paul and Marcus who return from injury.”
If Pogba and Rashford are world class and De Gea is no longer at that level following a series of high profile mistakes, Bruno Fernandes should certainly be considered world class.
The Portuguese failed to reach their peak in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory against Norwich on Saturday night. He was perhaps guilty of trying too hard, shooting seven times in a 120-minute match and wasting possession more than had become his custom.
Still, according to statistics, Fernandes was one of United’s most instrumental players on Carrow Road, finding a teammate 72 times in the last third and creating five chances for United forward. As a Twitter account said: “If it’s him on a bad day, then Man United has signed a serious player.”
Recently, Anthony Martial seems ready to join the Old Trafford elite too.
In fact, he seemed much more acute and more dangerous than attacking partner Rashford since the restart, shaking off a couple of expensive misses at Tottenham to bring a cut-throat hat trick against Sheffield United. And, getting off the Norwich bench, he seemed to be a confident man. Some of his steps were absolutely stunning and he played a role in the winning goal.
If Martial manages to maintain his goal form, helped by the supply line of Pogba and Fernandes – and in tune with Rashford – Solskjaer’s attack will begin to look formidable.
You could add that Harry Maguire should be among the European elite defenders, as the most expensive central defender in the world and one of the best of the Premier League in his position. Or to say that Mason Greenwood has world-class potential, which is undoubtedly true. Aaron Wan-Bissaka could be another ready to enter the “world class bracket”.
If Jadon Sancho comes from Borussia Dortmund, he is a guaranteed fifth-class world player and someone who will surely love playing with Pogba, Rashford, Fernandes and Martial.
United has come a long way since February 2018 and its team is starting to reflect this.
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