Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said Paul Pogba is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world following his performance in the FA Cup fifth-round victory at Chelsea.
The interim manager further said Monday’s win over Chelsea was a “massive result” as they bounced back from the first loss under him to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.
United won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, six days after losing at home to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.
That defeat was Solskjaer’s first since he replaced Jose Mourinho in December.
“We had criticism after the PSG game and everyone did what we asked tonight,” said the Norwegian.
Solskjaer’s men won thanks to first-half goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba, and they prevented Chelsea seriously testing goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
“The performance was fantastic, our tactics worked,” Solskjaer added.
“We asked our midfielders to press higher and get into the box and it worked. The defending in the second half was fantastic.
“Chelsea are a good team. They have their way of playing but Juan Mata did a fantastic job on Jorginho and we were absolutely perfect defensively.
“It is a massive result.”
United star Pogba scored a goal and set up another as he was named man of the match in Monday’s impressive 2-0 win away to Chelsea.
Pogba teed up Herrera for the opening goal in the 31st minute before the World Cup winner got on the scoresheet with a towering header on the stroke of half-time.
United have won 11 of their 13 games under Solskjaer, who was appointed interim manager until the end of the season.
They are fourth in the Premier League, having been 11 points adrift of that position when the club’s former striker was appointed, and will play Wolves in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Former United defender Phil Neville said the win over Chelsea was “like watching the old Manchester United teams”.
“Ole has got them playing with confidence and belief,” he said. “It’s incredible.
“If you’d asked me a little while ago whether they could play with confidence and arrogance, I’d have said no. But now they are.
“If you think of the performances here under Jose Mourinho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford were playing left and right-back.”
Neville said Solskjaer should be given the United manager’s job full-time, but only at the end of the season.
“I wouldn’t give it to him yet,” he said. “Keep the players hungry, keep them fighting for him and then give him the job.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer said the performance of United’s players suggested they want Solskjaer to be appointed permanently.