Kevin Kilbane joined The Football Show to look back on the opening weekend of Premier League football and Manchester United's impressive win over Leeds United.
Former Everton and Republic of Ireland player Kevin Kilbane was impressed with Paul Pogba in Manchester United's 5-1 win over Leeds United at the weekend, but still need to improve two key positions.
Bruno Fernandes scored a hattrick in Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men got their 2021/22 Premier League campaign off to a winning start.
But it was his midfield partner Paul Pogba that Kilbane was most impressed with.
"Clearly you could see, without the ball, his work rate was top class I felt.", Kilbane told Off the Ball. "His attitude was spot on at the start of the match."
"He was sensational"
Manchester United's Paul Pogba after the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Paul Ellis/PA Wire/PA Images"If you looked at him in the summer, potentially, before France got knocked out he was the best midfield player at the tournament."
"He's coming into the season in full form. He's been given the freedom to play by his manager. I thought he was sensational".
With Marcus Rashford out of action with injury, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer played the Frenchman on the left-side of midfield and it's here Kilbane feels Pogba can thrive.
"When he is given a more advanced role like he was at the weekend, if he runs out of position, it's not necessarily going to hurt the team as much.", Kilbane added.
When Rashford does return to the fore however, the former Everton man feels that Solskjaer could struggle to get the best out of the Pogba and weaknesses in other areas could be exposed.
Improvements needed
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester."I've said it constantly about Fred. I know he's done well over the past year or so, but I don't see him as a real dominant player who's going to control a game."
"He's a high energy player rather than somebody who is going to control the ball for them, that's why they need [Scott] McTominay beside him"
"They probably need someone in midfield who is going to give them that stability and who is going play behind Pogba."
As well as bolstering the middle of the park, Kilbane also feels that the club could potentially look to strengthen their goalkeeping options.
"They've not got a world-class goalkeeper."
"Is [Dean] Henderson going to be that main person alongside De Gea?"
Despite these issues, Kilbane also pointed to the strengths within the squad, adding that they have a 'strong 1-18 now'.
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