Pogba & Tielemans Analysed

Youri Tielemans was given a top billing ahead of Anderlecht's home clash with Manchester United at the atmospheric Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on Thursday.

The 19-year-old is highly regarded within the Belgian club and far beyond, with his midfield promptings earning him the captain's armband on an historic night for the hosts and responsibility by the bucketload.

And he looked the part from the first moment he stepped onto the pitch for the warm-up. He's clearly a quality footballer in the making and it's little wonder he is attracting admiring glances from across Europe and, speaking to some employed by the Brussels club, is destined for the top.

Yet Tielemans came up against somebody who looks closer to the finished article in Paul Pogba, only 24 himself. It was an intriguing battle to watch as the two players tried to make their teams tick.

When you watch Pogba play from a press box only an underarm stone's throw from the touchline, it is apparent he genuinely does have the potential to become the complete midfielder. He dominated the game at times, demanding possession and dictating the tempo, while probing for openings at every opportunity.

Tielemans worked hard to exert similar influence but was always going to face a losing battle against United's colossus in the middle of the park. It must be hugely beneficial having a master of the craft alongside him in Michael Carrick, who provides such assurance and a screen of the defence, but Pogba was charged with making things happen. 

He won aerial challenges, changed direction to wrongfoot opponents, supplied clever touches to win space and illustrated his expert control on more than occasion. But it was also his determination to release through balls to the forwards, even if three of his efforts were marginally overhit to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard. 

Persevering, Pogba launched a couple of wonderful balls out to the ever-willing Antonio Valencia and fooled Tielemans with one lovely rollback. One classic example of his strength and agility left Frank Acheampong in a heap on the deck, but this was only one of several magical moments by the Frenchman.

When Henrikh Mkhitaryan grabbed the crucial goal, Pogba's first response after celebrating was to point to his temple with his fingers. 'Concentrate' was the message to everybody, a sign of his growing maturity and just the response his manager will have wanted.

Tielemans grew in stature as the match progressed, showing quick feet and an ability to offload swift, incisive passes. More than once, he played in Acheampong down the left after driving forward, with Ivan Obradovic firing a rare opportunity wide from one such attack.

The youngster was perhaps fortunate to escape a booking for a hefty challenge on Mkhitaryan when frustration got the better of him, but it would be unfair to question his temperament as he continued to impress. The leveller for Leander Dendoncker changed the whole outlook of the tie as the Belgians scored with their only attempt on target to undo much of United's good work. 

However, Pogba also remained a big influence, alongside Carrick, who got better and better as the game wore on. Continuing to control proceedings, Pogba was aided further in midfield when Marouane Fellaini came off the bench for Marcus Rashford and allowed the Reds' no.6 to push forward. 

Still, he was able to stick out those telescopic legs and win the ball and he had a great chance to add a second goal when Ruben pulled off a fine save soon before the equaliser, with Mourinho afterwards saying of that chance: "It was probably the only one we had where everything was correct, with the timings, touches and decisions." 

Joining the attack regularly, Pogba also lashed a drive well off target. When such opportunities start going in, as they surely will, and those ambitious through-balls reach their targets with increased regularity, Pogba will make any critics eat their words, while Tielemans will be one to watch again at Old Trafford next Thursday, with the tie delicately poised. Their next battle should be another fascinating one in seven days' time.