5 things learned from Manchester United’s FA Cup semi final victory over Tottenham

Paul Pogba kept it simple and benefited once again

Mourinho was defiant he doesn’t like individual awards after the Bournemouth game but credited the BT Sport punditry team when they chose Paul Pogba as the man of the match. This was because the Frenchman kept it simple throughout the match. Fewer tricks, flicks and touches, all that Mourinho demanded.

So all eyes were watching to see if Pogba could replicate his performance in a big match at Wembley. And after the opening 20 minutes, the answer was no. Pogba didn’t cover for Young when the full-back had to apply pressure up the pitch, leaving Christian Eriksen in behind to square for Dele Alli’s goal. But from that moment he dominated proceedings.

Drifting out to the left when on the ball he had a number of simple options to pass to. Sanchez making runs in behind, Young on the overlap, Matic square, or even Lingard or Lukaku coming across from their areas of the pitch.

With the protection of Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic too, if he switched off, he had cover. In the second half, in particular, Pogba stepped up. Collecting the ball from deep and driving the United team up the pitch.