Manchester United’s world-record signing has at times been less effective in a 4-2-3-1, as was evident at Euro 2016, but will Mourinho abandon his favoured formation in favour of 4-3-3?

It is generally unwise to judge a footballer on the basis of a major international tournament, but Paul Pogba’s underwhelming Euro 2016 raised questions about his tactical flexibility rather than his level of talent. When Didier Deschamps changed formation midway through the competition, Pogba struggled to adapt.

Stormzy and laundry ladies: the new face of transfer announcements Read more

Deschamps had intended to play a 4-3-3 system, a formation that suits Pogba’s talents perfectly. Pogba’s best performances with Juventus came in that system, particularly in the midfield that featured Andrea Pirlo dictating play, giving Arturo Vidal and Pogba licence to bomb forward.

It was an unusual midfield trio, with the playmaker in the deepest role, and the other two players given more ball-winning responsibility. But it suited Pogba perfectly: he could showcase his energy and tenacity when attempting to regain possession, plus his drive, trickery and long-range shooting ability when going forward. Broadly speaking, he is an all-rounder, a box-to-box midfielder who is outstanding technically and physically.

Deschamps, however, switched to a 4-2-3-1 system midway through the tournament to accommodate Antoine Griezmann in his favoured central position, forcing Pogba into a deeper role alongside Blaise Matuidi. That compromised his style considerably: neither he nor Matuidi is a natural defensive midfielder, with both defined more by their attacking power than their positional discipline. In that role Pogba looked highly uncomfortable, his limitations in possession exposed. He was unable to play penetrative passes from deep positions; with Juventus he had never had this responsibility.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest How United could line up with Paul Pogba in the team. Photograph: The Guardian

Those performances may concern José Mourinho, who had appeared set to use a 4-2-3-1 formation with Manchester United this season. Mourinho traditionally likes playing more disciplined midfielders in the two deep roles, although in his second spell at Chelsea he initially used Cesc Fàbregas there with great success before shifting the Spaniard higher up the pitch, particularly in big games. Pogba is comparable to Fàbregas, or perhaps even Steven Gerrard: his major weakness is his positional ability.

Top 10 most expensive football players in the world – in pictures Read more

It is easy to imagine Mourinho allowing Pogba to play a deep midfield role at home to Hull City, difficult to foresee the same format away at Manchester City. Pogba could theoretically play as a No10, although that would be a relatively unfamiliar position for him. Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the intelligent attacking midfielder recruited from Borussia Dortmund, would be more suited to that role, but appears set to start on the right flank, drifting infield.

The obvious solution would be a switch to a 4-3-3. That would suit Pogba perfectly, and Mkhitaryan offers a wonderful variety of midfield skills and is versatile enough to play that position effectively. It would also suit Manchester United’s first-choice holding midfielder Michael Carrick, now 35, who could play a slightly deeper role.

Ander Herrera is another midfielder clearly suited to the shuttling role in 4-3-3, and the same is probably true of Marouane Fellaini and Morgan Schneiderlin.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Some of Paul Pogba’s best performances for Juventus came in the midfield with Andrea Pirlo, left, and Arturo Vidal. Photograph: Tony Gentile/Reuters

In attack, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has spent the last few years in a 4-3-3 for Paris Saint-Germain, and Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay are wide forwards rather than wide midfielders, likely to appreciate playing 15 yards higher up the pitch. The disappointed parties would probably be Wayne Rooney, who still seems to favour a No10 role and has been informed he will not play deep in midfield under Mourinho, and Juan Mata, whose future was perilous anyway, having been sold by Mourinho at Chelsea.

Mourinho has generally favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation in his past two jobs, at Real Madrid and Chelsea. His Plan B, however, has been the 4-3-3, and that system makes most sense to get the world’s most expensive footballer playing in his optimum position.