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Published 12:50 19 Aug 2016 BST
Updated 12:51 19 Aug 2016 BST
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Pogba is similar to a new Bryan Robson - but tactics have moved on from Robbo's day
Pogba in action for France at Euro 2016 (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)[/caption]
The other English player to whom Pogba bears some stylistic resemblance is Steven Gerrard, whom Mourinho was very keen to sign for Chelsea in 2005. Back then his intention was seemingly to play Gerrard to one side of Claude Makelele and Frank Lampard to the other. Could he then do something similar at United?
Mourinho did use the 4-3-3 at times at Real Madrid, and his 4-2-3-1 at Chelsea, with three of Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Mikel John Obi and Oscar in the central triangle could easily switch to 4-3-3. He has the personnel to play that way at United: Carrick or Schneiderlin holding, with Ander Herrera or Marouane Fellaini to the right with Pogba to the left.
Were he to do that, though, there would be one obvious casualty. Zlatan Ibrahimovic would presumably remain the preferred central striker, with Anthony Martial on the left and either Juan Mata or Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the right – and that would mean no place for Rooney.
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Will Wayne Rooney be waving goodbye to United after this season? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)[/caption]
Perhaps Mourinho is sincere when he says he believes Rooney and Ibrahimovic can forge a successful partnership, but both are the wrong side of 30 and neither is exactly rapid. Against Bournemouth on Sunday, United lacked fluency and that lack of pace will be more of an issue in games in which United operate more on the break.
At some point the question will have to be answered: to get the best out of Pogba, is it necessary to sacrifice Rooney?
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