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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been warned that Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba should not be used in the same Manchester United midfield.
The Red Devils earned their first win of the fledgling Premier League campaign on Saturday, with Fernandes converting a penalty in the 100th minute into a dramatic 3-2 win over Brighton.
But play at The Amex once again highlighted United’s shortcomings at the rear, with the Gaviotas peppering David de Gea’s goal for much of the afternoon.
In all, Brighton hit the wood five times, in addition to scoring twice, including what looked like a last-minute draw.
And expert Danny Murphy has suggested that playing with both Fernandes and Pogba leaves United without defensive areas, after conceding five goals in their first two league games.
“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a great decision to make because Manchester United will continue to send goals if they continue to name Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes in the same lineup,” he said in his Mail Sport column.
“Excellent creative players as they are, neither is good enough defensively to play together in a three-man midfield.
Manchester United are looking to chart their way back to the top. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has already signed Donny van de Beek, but Jadon Sancho remains Manchester United’s number one target.
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That is certainly the case against any of the Big Six and on Saturday they were caught repeatedly against Brighton.
“It’s not laziness on the part of Bruno or Pogba,” Murphy added. “It’s just one aspect of their game that they are reactive defensively rather than proactive. They simply do not detect or sense danger quickly enough. When they realize that they need to go back, it is too late. “
Despite scoring in the opening day loss to Crystal Palace, summer signing Donny van de Beek had to settle for a bench spot against Brighton.
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
And Murphy believes that Solskjaer will need to put the former Ajax player in early to address the team’s problems at the rear.
“I think it’s significant that United have signed Donny van de Beek from Ajax. He has more energy and is more of a true box-to-box player than Pogba or Bruno.
“I think once you are fully integrated into the United setup you start with a more orthodox midfielder and that leaves room for the two glamorous players, unless you face a weaker team at Old Trafford without much attack. threat.
“In recent months I have to say that Bruno has been more influential in an offensive sense than Pogba, so I don’t know where that leaves the Frenchman, who has been substituted for just over an hour in United’s two Premier League games “.
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