Pogba's The Man among Young Boys

The Special One doesn't care to play football on artificial surfaces.

Then again, who does?

Most Swiss sides would say the same thing, but they realize their clubs have to deal with lotsa winter snow.

There wasn't a flake in sight tonight, and since Manchester United blanked the Young Boys, 0-3, in Bern, not even José Mourinho could be counted.

 

Not sure if the surface was a factor, but United ran out five changes in their Starting XI for this one.

Mourninho gave Alexis Sánchez a rest, as a three-goal production from a £20million annual contract might warrant. It allowed Diogo Dalot -- their 19-year-old signing from Porto -- to show his stuff after recovering from a knee injury. For the record he other replacements were Luke Shaw, Fred, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. Definitely a big brand's bench.

 

The start was even enough, as United methodically tested the Young Boys' 4-4-2 while the hosts did all they could to get a jump on the match before the Red Devil juggernaut got up to speed.

That lasted until the 35th minute, when Fred found Paul Pogba, who maneuvered into firing range and struck perfect shot to the top corner, giving no chance to David von Ballmoos:

The tide had inevitably turned.

As if there were any tides in the Alps.

 

United wasn't done with the first half, either.

In the 42nd minute, Luke Shaw sent a cross into the box that deflected off Kevin Mbabu’s hand.

 

Pogba was the one who stepped up and selected the top right corner.

Money.

 

A Champions League double is always impressive.

Seemed like it warmed the chill between Pogba and Mourinho, too.

 

Pogba wasn't done, either.

In the 65th minute, dude took possession in a counter-attack and assisted Anthony Martial, who made it three for the Red Devils:

 

Mourinho was probably most pleased that this time -- as opposed to United previous matches against Burnley and Watford -- they actually built on a 2-0 halftime lead.

Perhaps the difference this time is the increasingly influential presence of Pogba. He'd like to think so, anyway.