Paul Pogba has run riot since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins at Manchester United

For two years, pundits and supporters were left exasperated by Paul Pogba. They cried out for him to grab games by the scruff of the neck and drag Manchester United to victory – his reputation, and his £89million price tag, warranted such high standards.

But Monday night’s display against Chelsea was just the most recent example of a player who has blossomed into the maestro United believed they had reacquired from Juventus in the summer of 2016.

The midfielder was at his marauding best, shoving off challenges from the Chelsea midfield, spraying an array of intelligent and direct passes and providing a nagging threat to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal.

Paul Pogba is blossoming under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man United

His display against Chelsea on Monday was just the most recent example of his resurgence

His inch-perfect cross into Ander Herrera allowed United to go one up before the creator turned the finisher for the visitors’ second when he buried Marcus Rashford’s ball into the box to double the lead.

And what can be said now is that this performance at Stamford Bridge is certainly not a one-off. Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins in December, Pogba has been reinvigorated in his more advanced role.

Cast your mind back to the start of the season and the ever-darkening cloud which appeared to loom over Pogba – more specifically his vexed relationship with Jose Mourinho.

Pogba was incensed by Mourinho’s comments in the wake of France’s World Cup triumph this summer, when the former United boss neglected to praise his player’s contribution. The Frenchman then had a run-in with Mourinho in the wake of a 1-1 draw with Wolves, when he urged Mourinho to be more attacking following a series of vapid displays.

That led to a public dressing down in front of his team-mates in training the following Monday, when he was told he would never captain United again. 

Pogba had a strained and vexed relationship with Jose Mourinho before Solskjaer took over 

This training-ground bust-up followed a series of rows in their fractious relationship 

Then came the straw which very nearly broke the camel’s back when Sky Sports cameras caught a heated bust-up following a humiliating home defeat by Derby County in the Carabao Cup. It became abundantly clear both personalities could not stay at the club.

The insidious atmosphere at United under Mourinho’s stewardship went hand in hand with the players becoming cagey and shackled by the fear of making mistakes or veering from an extremely stringent and defensive game plan.

Now, under Solskjaer, United have won 11 of their last 13 games with just one defeat. Their defence appears to have more cohesion, but it’s their rejuvenated attack, driven by Pogba, which has garnered the lion’s share of praise. 

Pogba’s cogent relationship with the liberated attacking trio of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial has bore fruit, with United having hit 30 goals since December 22.

In that time, Pogba has led the way and shown the leadership and attacking qualities to spearhead United’s once-floundering bid to break back into the top four.

But now he is liberated and back to his best, scoring and creating goals from midfield

Pogba’s relationship with Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial is vital

Solskjaer has allowed Pogba to play a more advanced role and it has certainly bore fruit

In the context of the Premier League, no player has provided more assists (6) or contributed to more goals (15) than Pogba since Solskjaer’s arrival. 

Juan Mata branded Pogba the ‘complete’ player following the triumph over Chelsea and his recent eye for goal has certainly added to his repertoire to reinforce that very point. 

The France World Cup-winner has unleashed more shots (42) and had more efforts on target (23) than any other Premier League rival since December 22 – undoubtedly a factor in United’s recent upsurge in goals scored.

Contrast that with his numbers before the Norwegian’s arrival this season and the numbers are pretty telling. In eight more games he contributed to six fewer goals and had attempted just 10 more shots. 

‘All the competitions are important,’ Pogba said after Monday’s FA Cup victory in west London. ‘We want to win something.

‘Last year we didn’t win any trophies. I still remember that. This year we want to win something.’

With a rampant Pogba now adding consistent goals and drive to his much-needed brawn and physical presence, United have a man at the heart of the team to ensure silverware doesn’t looks too far out of reach. 

With a rampant Pogba at the heart of midfield, United are not going to be far from silverware

PS… it’s not been like that all season

Under Mourinho, Pogba’s attacking threat was not nearly as potent. In similar league tables he was languishing, as his side were in the league table.

On December 21, he ranked 31st in the Premier League for goals (5) and 20th in assists (4). He ranked 12th in shots taken (52) but his accuracy allowed him to still make the top three in shots on target (28).

It’s safe to say there is a marked difference.