Result Chelsea vs. Man Utd: Paul Pogba's treatment is Jose Mourinho's biggest mistake

Solskjaer back on Chelsea

The defeat of Manchester United at Paris Saint-Germain almost a week ago may have offered a long-awaited reality check, but who could blame its supporters if this victory in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Chelsea made them excited again?

The fate of acting goalkeeper Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is operational again after the 2-0 win and the Norwegian continues to inspire an exciting and counter-attacking football that exploits the talent at its disposal to the maximum.

For Chelsea, it was another discouraging defeat that added to the pressure on Maurizio Sarri. Again, Sarri refused to deviate from his A plan, preferring to stick to principles on which his players seem unable to act.

There was no symbol more indicative of Chelsea's current discomfort than the chants ringing around Stamford Bridge as the match entered its final phase. While the crowd was singing "F *** Sarriball", their guests suggested "bring back Mourinho".

This is certainly not so bad. Not yet, at least. Even in this case, Sarri must inspire a quick return to form, otherwise his satisfied employers of the trigger can begin to consider their options.

Pogba treatment could be the biggest mistake of Mourinho

When the many mistakes of Jose Mourinho's tenure as director of Manchester United have been thoroughly evaluated – and a lot – the marginalization of Paul Pogba will certainly be at the top of the list.

It was about the same time last year, shortly after the signing of a new contract, that Mourinho had the impression of having the political capital within the club to abandon the signing of his record and the most naturally talented player of the first team in favor of Scott McTominay.

Without being cruel to McTominay, it is hard to imagine him producing the exemplary center that helped Ander Herrera's goal at the opening and the sublime doubled that led to United's second place, in a half of soccer.

It is difficult to imagine it from another midfielder in world football. And that's where the problem lies. Mourinho knew that he had this match winner talent, but he undermined Pogba, isolated him and ostracized him, thus preventing him from producing this form in a consistent manner.

A year after the power play of Mourinho, only one of the two men remains and here, his talent has allowed United to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Alonso's mistakes allow United to

Despite all the offensive exploits of Marcos Alonso, it was his flagrant defensive weaknesses that tainted his performance at Stamford Bridge. Five badists for this campaign can not go so far in the argument for a 28-year nomination for a place of choice alongside Sarri.

Although Jorginho, or another midfielder from Chelsea, could have followed Herrera's archer for United's first goal, Alonso did not notice either Rashford or Herrera and was helpless against the scorer when the ball went rebounded in the goal.

Alonso then made the ill-advised decision to challenge a head with Pogba that was simply impossible to win. Left desperately out of position by this odd choice when United swept forward, he was absent as Rashford received the wide ball to give a precise center.

Because of the two goals of United, there are now serious questions about Alonso's ongoing selection. The advantages and disadvantages of his game in the back are often the subject of excessive debate, a worrying sign for a player engaged until 2023.

United's attack gives mixed results without Lingard and Martial

The injuries inflicted on Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial last week seem to reveal a flaw in Solskjaer's. His attack was suddenly stopped once they left against Paris Saint-Germain, suggesting that the Reservists were simply not up to the task.

What was easily forgotten was that in the previous round of this competition, far from the Emirates, United had produced one of the most convincing demonstrations of the short reign of Solskjaer and had done without two of his three first choices.

It was an opportunity for Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata – Lingard and Martial's replacements – to prove that they could easily integrate into the Solskjaer system without killing United's counterattacks. The results were mixed.

In the end, United did quite well without two of his key men, but his goals and other opportunities were mostly reflected in the usual quick breaks and they had little to do with Lukaku or Mata.

Sanchez is gone in the cold

In the absence of Lingard and Martial, this FA Cup tie could have given Alexis Sanchez the opportunity to relaunch his career in United more than a week after his arrival and less than a year. a week after his departure.

However, with Lukaku and Mata favorites, Sanchez's cunning and agility were left on the substitutes' bench until the end of the second period, when United already made the necessary to reach the last eight.

Given Chelsea's puzzle game and his tendency to play in the back, old Sanchez, a hard worker, would normally have been an excellent choice to lead the line, harbading and harbading Sarri's backline.

The fact that he was left in reserve shows that his career at Old Trafford remains low. For now, the ketchup is still stuck in the bottle.

Stay up to date with all the latest news with expert commentary and badysis from our award-winning writers