Juan Mata and a diamond key to Paul Pogba’s Manchester United success

Why Juan Mata and a midfield diamond are key to Paul Pogba’s success at Manchester United.

Manchester United getting the best out of Paul Pogba doesn’t have to be a complicated process. Starting a player on the Frenchman’s wavelength, in terms of flair and guile, helps.

Fortunately, United have one of those in the shape of Juan Mata. The Spaniard returned to the starting XI for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea and showed the Reds how to free Pogba.

Mata and a midfield diamond helped United’s best player look more like himself again. Pogba had been scoring and assisting for fun since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho as manager back in December.

Unfortunately, Pogba had looked as though he’d hit the wall recently. Solskjaer had to act, and reintroducing Mata and changing the shape in the middle proved the perfect tonic.

Restoring Mata to the side gave Pogba another playmaker to link with. He had a teammate capable of reading and matching his deft touches, clever flicks and precise passing.

The result was a quicker, more fluid United team going forward. Pogba rediscovered his swagger and became more involved in partnership with somebody who plays his game.

A perfect example of the greater artistry Pogba and Mata crafted was illustrated by the latter’s goal to cap a flowing team move in the 30th minute:

Goals like these don’t happen in a vacuum or by chance. Instead, moves this easy on the eye only come about when gifted technicians enjoy the freedom to collaborate.

Pogba’s role in the build-up was significant. It was part of a superbly stylish 45-minute display from the classy No. 6.

As good as he was, Pogba wasn’t just rediscovering the magic because Mata was acting as his muse. He was also benefiting from returning to his favourite part of the pitch.

Specifically, United’s midfield diamond, with Mata at its tip, allowed Pogba to play on the inside left. It’s where the 26-year-old is most comfortable, a position from where he can ghost into central areas with sudden and late runs.

He can also draw attention away from the overlapping runs of left-back Luke Shaw, anothr key figure in United’s goal. Shaw’s runs, along with those of striker Marcus Rashford, stretch defenses and leave pockets of space for Pogba to exploit further up the pitch, where he does his best work.

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Giving Pogba more time and freedom in attacking areas makes United a better side to watch and more efficient going forward. Doing so depends on taking away his defensive responsibilities, a job the diamond shape is ideally suited for.

Pogba doesn’t need to track back as often with Ander Herrera working the right and Nemanja Matic holding the fort behind him. It helps to have Rashford and his willingness to double up and support Shaw when out of possession.

Playing a diamond also means Pogba doesn’t have to defend from the front by pressing too high or centrally. Mata handles that role well from the summit position.

Keeping Pogba on the left takes him out of the fray in the middle. He’s left unfettered and unscathed in his attempts to saunter between the lines and create chances.

Indulging Pogba and compensating for the deficiencies in his game is just one piece of the puzzle for Solskjaer. Pogba needs more than worker bees to provide the industry he often shies away from.

He must also have those who can match his technical level around him. Mata answered both calls against his former club:

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Numbers as impressive as those beg the question why doesn’t Mata start more often? Then there’s the bigger question: Why haven’t the Red Devils agreed a new deal with one of the league’s most productive players?

There are no easy answers or at least no answers convincing enough to excuse United wasting such a talent. It’s almost as if the decision-makers at Old Trafford have forgotten how gifted the player they signed for £37.1 million back in 2014 truly is.

Overlooking Mata’s value has more far-reaching consequences than making a past deal look foolish. It also means wasting the chance to get the most out of Pogba, the one player capable of dragging United back among the elite.

The results of this neglect could be made painfully obvious this summer. Mata has been linked with top-four rivals Arsenal, while Real Madrid continue to be mentioned as a Pogba’s most-likely next destination.

Solskjaer would rue losing both, especially when playing them together more often is all it would take to keep the pair happy and thriving.