Paul Pogba back to his best – but power play with Jose Mourinho could end up costing Man Utd dearly

HE was the hero of the day but Paul Pogba could be villain of the year.

Having won his power battle with Jose Mourinho, Manchester United’s £90million man is back to his swaggering best with another stunning performance for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

4

Pogba’s two goals and assist in the 4-1 win over Bournemouth saw United win three successive league games for the first time since March - and the Frenchman was the dominating factor.

Yet United’s caretaker boss can take little credit.

For the World Cup-winning midfielder, it didn’t matter who took the reins from Mourinho as long as it wasn’t Mourinho.

And, ultimately, his strop could end up costing his club a place at Europe’s top table.

Victory over Bournemouth sees United sit eight points behind fourth-place Chelsea and still a long way off qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

4

With 18 games remaining, there is still time and there is still hope.

But had Pogba played with such intensity and verve under Mourinho, United’s grip on a top-four position would have been much stronger.

Instead, the ego took hold and United were the ones to suffer. Only when the king was toppled did Pogba show what he could do.

Operating from his preferred left side of a midfield-three, he galloped up and down Old Trafford protecting to his defence and feeding the attack.

4

Before Solskjaer - or, more importantly, before Mourinho’s exit - the Frenchman had only three goals in the league all season.

His double against Bournemouth took his tally to four in just two games as he is liberated without Mourinho and looks set for a surge in the second-half of the season.

Against Eddie Howe’s men, it was all about timing.

When Marcus Rashford shimmied past Nathan Ake and Diego Rico, his cross was bundled in by the on-coming Pogba in a clinical move that was back to United’s best.

His second was even better as United raced up the right on the counter-attack.

4

LATEST MAN UNITED NEWS

On yer way

Andre Onana sensationally told to QUIT Man Utd by ex-star after nightmare errors

RUB-BING IT IN

Amorim knew Man Utd was a mess... but Ratcliffe crew could be biggest yet

AMOR NEEDED

Seven Man Utd deals that may happen in January as Amorim faces desperate fight

RED RAGE

Jim Ratcliffe has gone 'too far' with latest Man Utd decision, fume fans

Ander Herrera delivered a looping cross into the box and Pogba came flying through the air, beating Asmir Begovic to the ball and powering in his header.

Pogba’s dance in celebration showed how swiftly the confidence has returned.

And the hat-trick almost came when a late shot came back off the post, but Pogba had time for one final show as he teed up sub Romelu Lukaku to score the fourth.

He may be the main man again, but Pogba's priorities are clear.