Paul Pogba returned from injury to score the winner as Manchester United defeated AC Milan 1–0 on Thursday to advance to the Europa League quarter-finals 2–1. World Cup winner Pogba was sidelined for five weeks with a hamstring injury. But the 28-year-old Frenchman scored in the final 16 of the second leg clash at the San Siro four minutes after getting off the bench at the start of the second half. Coach Ole Gunnar Solaskar welcomed Pogba’s return as “a big, big boost for us”.
“The boys have done remarkable work without Paul but we know his qualities.
“He makes a very, very big difference for us. Paul is working really hard, but you can see that he can’t play more than 45 minutes.
“We had to read a few things in the second half, when I think we were much better
“We want to go all the way, it was tough to lose in the semi-finals (last year).”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic also returned to Milan with a thigh injury, with Sved coming after an hour, but could not find a way to his former club’s past despite threats.
“This elimination is a big disappointment,” coach Stefano Pioli said.
He said, “We played like a great team but we should have scored at midnight today.
“Manchester is a very strong team that reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last year, a team that beat Manchester City 10 days ago.
“It’s tough that we have to bounce back in the league right away.”
Milan scored marginally against the 2017 winners thanks to a stoppage-time away goal from Simon Cajar in the first leg at Old Trafford.
Soulsjacker named an unchanged side from the first leg by sticking with the team that defeated West Ham over the weekend in the Premier League.
Anthony Marshall and Addison Cavani were injured, but Marcus Rashford returned as the starter, with Pogba and Donnie van de Beek at the back.
Pogba’s strength ‘no secret’
United put the hosts under pressure early on, but ‘Rossoneri’ came into their lead as the first half progressed.
Samu Castillajo pulled back a pass for Frank Casey after 25 minutes, but a Victor Lindelof defended the combined threat to deal with the slipping.
Casey was impressive in midfield, with only one Dean Henderson sending an unmarked Alexis Selemaiker to the Ivorian to defeat the Belgian effort.
Rad Krunik missed a chance to break the deadlock before the break when he shot wide before half-time.
Pogba came off the bench in place of Rashford after the break and made an immediate impact.
The former Juventus player exploded at the top of the net range after a scuffle in front of the Milan goal.
Mason Greenwood tried to give his chance from a distance but was saved by Jianluigi Donarumma.
Ibrahimovic replaced Castilejo with Manchester United loanee Diogo Dalot after 65 minutes.
And Sved almost broke down seven minutes later, getting his head in for a Hayden Kalhanoglu cross, rising above Luke Shaw with Henderson doing well to punch the header.
United doubled their account with Pogba with a header two minutes from time.
“I was sure that my header would go in, but it didn’t,” Ibrahimovic said.
Promoted
“We did well throughout the game, we created many chances, but if you don’t score then the moment comes when their pressure leads us to an error that costs us because of Pogba’s goal.
“Everyone knows how strong (Pogba) is, it is no secret. He is not strong, he is very strong.”
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