Four years on, Pogba still struggling to fit in at United 

anchester United’s inability to turn huge financial resources into a fully functioning team is personified by Paul Pogba’s struggle to justify a place in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s struggling side.

Not for the first time, Pogba spoke of his frustrations at club level on international duty for France last week, where he again shone as the World Cup winners booked their place in the final four of the Nations League.

Brought back to United for a then world record $118m fee in 2016, Pogba’s second spell at Old Trafford has been one of fits and starts, without ever living up to expectations for long spells.

Repeatedly leaving Pogba out was one of the factors that led to Jose Mourinho’s dismissal as United boss in Decem-ber 2018.  

But nearly two years on, an-other manager, Solskjaer, has reached the same conclusion.Pogba has started just one of United’s last five Premier League games, in which he gave away the match-win-ning penalty in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

In three of the four league games Pogba has started, United have lost at Old Trafford, including a 6-1 humiliation by Tottenham.

Pogba is fit for tonight’s visit of Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League but Solskjaer has yet to find a way to match him with Bruno Fernandes in midfield without being overrun.

The two started the first three league games of this season together when they conceded 11 goals to Crystal Pal-ace, Brighton and Spurs.

 Pogba’s most outstanding display for United so far came in a 5-0 thrashing of RB Leipzig in the Champions League, when Fernandes was left on the bench. Solskjaer insists Pogba remains “a very important player.” 

However, the Norwegian has not been willing to risk his job by keeping him in the team. Defeat to Basaksehir three weeks ago put the pressure back on Solskjaer after a fine start to Champions League campaign. The Red Devils cannot risk a repeat tonight.