MANCHESTER // Manchester United travel to Chelsea on Sunday in confident mood after Paul Pogba scored twice in a 4-1 win over Fenerbahce to put them joint top of their Europa League group.
United will face more of a challenge when they return to Turkey in the febrile atmosphere of Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu in two weeks.
Jose Mourinho acknowledged in his post-match interview that “to go to Istanbul without winning this match would be even more difficult”.
United were never in danger against the struggling Turks though, yet they are still only two points behind United in the group.
United have found goals a struggle recently, scoring more than one goal only twice in the previous nine games when they beat Leicester City 4-1 and third tier Northampton Town 3-1.
Pogba had scored once all season. When United were awarded a 31st minute penalty after an unconvincing opening spell, fans might have expected centre forward Wayne Rooney, who made his spectacular United debut with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce 12 years ago, to take it.
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The No 10 is only two goals short of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 38-goal European record for the club, but as cries of ‘Rooney! Rooney!’ rang around Old Trafford, Pogba asserted his claims over his captain.
“I told Wayne that I wanted to take it and he let me take it,” Pogba said. A relaxed Mourinho later claimed Pogba had been selected to take any penalties.
When a second cheap penalty was awarded two minutes and 55 seconds later, Antony Martial, who had won it, took it. He too put the ball to the goalkeeper’s right. Fenerbahce, who are struggling this season and sit ninth in Turkey’s Super Lig, were beaten before half time as Pogba got his second in time added on for the first period.
It came following good work on the right from Rooney, squaring a ball towards Jesse Lingard who in turn cleverly set up Pogba. The French midfielder struck a fierce shot into the top corner and danced in celebration.
Lingard got a goal himself after 48 minutes, with Rooney and Pogba again involved, teeing up the number 14 to strike past Demirel. United were four up, with all the goals coming in an 18-minute blitz. The job had been done.
With the clash at Stamford Bridge in mind, United made seven changes from the side that had played out a goalless draw at Anfield on Monday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Daley Blind, Marcus Rashford, Marouanne Fellaini, Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera were all rested, with starts for Matteo Darmain, Michael Carrick, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Luke Shaw, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan did not even make the 18-man squad. He has been training well and Mourinho has said it was time for him to perform – yet the manager commented on the Armenian’s absence.
“The situation is that we played with Lingard, with Mata and Martial,” Mourinho said. “I am not an Einstein. I don’t know a tactical system that can play with four wingers at the same time.
“He has to work more to get the intensity and fitness to play at a high level. To have him on the bench and give him 15 or 20 minutes like I did to Memphis (Depay), I think it is much better for him to work yesterday much harder and he also did that today in a specific session, and wait for his chance but he is ready very soon.”
Carrick, 35, was excellent alongside Pogba, distributing the ball in a calm manner against opponents who were slow to press.
Fenerbahce’s consolation came from former United striker Robin van Persie, 33, who had been applauded by both sets of fans as at the start.
The Dutchman is struggling this season and the goal was only his second this term, but he received a standing ovation from the United fans for his 83rd minute strike and left the field to nostalgic chants of from the Stretford End as he embraced his former teammate Rooney.
Although they have not always convinced and sit seventh in the table, United are now unbeaten in six, with Mourinho looking confident ahead of Sunday’s return to his old club.
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