The problem isn’t that Manchester United don’t attack, it’s how they attack

Paul Pogba was wrong to say Manchester United need to attack more under Jose Mourinho. They need to attack better.

As if Jose Mourinho didn’t already have enough to deal with after Manchester United’s shock exit from the Carabao Cup to lower league Derby on Tuesday, he faced questions over a rift that had apparently developed between him and Paul Pogba. Mourinho did his best to play down these reports, but he was soon undermined by a video clip from a United training session.

Few bought Mourinho’s insistence at the time that there was no problem between him and Pogba after the decision to publicly strip the Frenchman of the deputy captaincy, but footage of the two squaring off in training on Wednesday morning completely blew apart that argument. Quite clearly there is friction between them.

This particular episode was sparked by comments made by Pogba at the weekend. Irked by the nature of United’s 1-1 home draw against newly promoted Wolves, the midfielder urged his teammates to attack more. “We are at home and we should play much better against Wolves,” he said. “We are here to attack.”

Many, including Mourinho it seems, took this as an attack on the manager, who has been known to favor a more conservative approach. Indeed, Pogba’s remarks echo the sentiment of many United fans who want Mourinho to release his team of the shackles that have held them back for so long. In this sense, Pogba has become the voice of the stands.

However, while his comments are understandable they don’t quite fully capture the problems United are currently facing. It’s not that they need to attack more, it’s that they must learn to attack better, smarter, faster. Pogba himself has a role to play in that. This is a much more nuanced discussion than the Frenchman, and many supporters, are perhaps willing to admit.

United average 5.8 shots on goal per game, the fifth highest mark in the Premier League this season — more than Spurs, for instance. They also average the fifth most crosses per game (20 per game), more than Spurs, Arsenal and even Liverpool. United, for all that’s angled their way, do throw players forward and get the ball into the box.

Hence, the allegation that Mourinho is a defensive-minded coach is somewhat unfair. He has attempted to change his style over the past two seasons or so, but has so far lacked the nous to pull it off. United are too static in the final third. Their movement isn’t what it should be and far too frequently their attackers look short of options even when there are plenty forward.

This is down to Mourinho’s capacity as a coach. He needs help. Sir Alex Ferguson brought in Carlos Queiroz as his assistant when the Scot recognized his own defensive shortcomings. Now Mourinho should look to bring in someone to help him in an attacking sense. Liverpool have a thrown-ins coach, so why couldn’t Mourinho call in a forwards specialist? That would at least demonstrate some self-awareness.

Whether or not Mourinho has the humility to do something like this is debatable. It already seems he’s making a power play with Pogba, demanding the Frenchman respect his authority. But there has been a shift in the dressing room dynamic at Old Trafford since the World Cup.

Previously, Mourinho was the one who held the power at the club. He was the proven winner, the one who held all the medals. Now Pogba is the guy who has succeeded at the top level of the game most recently and with that has come bolstered influence. The future of United will hinge on how this quarrel plays out.

Until then, United are stuck somewhere between the demands of their fans, the views of their best outfield player and the stubbornness of their manager. That’s not a great place to be, but the solution to their problems is about much more than just attacking with more gusto, as Pogba suggests.