Manchester United coach Michael Carrick believes Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes will prove to be a successful partnership in midfield.
The two world-class midfielders first played with one another against Tottenham, the first game back for Project Restart, and have shown brilliant glimpses together to create a sense of excitement for fans and hope for the not too distant future.
It very much depends on where Pogba’s head is at. Is he happy to stay at United beyond the summer and does he want to fight for titles at Old Trafford? You can see from early on that Fernandes is a winner and he can take the team to the next level, but that’s too much work for one player. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to find a way to best compliment his biggest stars.
Keeping them all happy may prove to be a challenge too.
Both Pogba and Fernandes were named in United’s starting line-up for the 3-0 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday evening after draw against Tottenham Hotspur five days earlier.
There were questions over whether they could play tonight but Carrick is confident United can strike the right balance on the pitch.
“It is understandable why a lot of the questions are ‘can they play together’ because they are two fantastic talents,”Carrick told ESPN prior to United’s FA Cup win over Norwich. “We feel we’ve got a really good balance in midfield between all the lads really. It is kind of unfair to single them out asking ‘can they play together’ because the other boys have done a terrific job and will have plenty to say as well.
“Of course, the talk is about Bruno and Paul and I’m sure they can play together. That’s why they are both here str the club and I’m sure they are looking forward to it. But as Bruno and Paul would totally understand me saying, it is not just about them.”
Carrick continued to note how Solskjaer now has a number of options in midfield such as Nemanja Matic, Fred, Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira.
“We’ve got so many other options with lads who have already proven what they bring to the team. It is exciting to have that. They all bring something different and all have their own strengths.”
Read more: Opinion: Norwich scare proves United need squad depth in midfield