Manchester United match-winner Paul Pogba says his team were under no illusions about the challenge that Burnley would present, in a game that was eventually decided by his goal.
The Frenchman’s 71st-minute volley from the edge of the area was enough to secure a victory over the Clarets and lift United to the top of the Premier League.
Speaking to MUTV at full-time, Paul said: “We knew it would be difficult, we knew it. Always when you come here, you know it’s going to be a war.
“You need to keep calm and we did this. It was very hard in the first half and then in the second half we came out with the good mentality and we got the goal. We got the result that we wanted.”
Having latched on to Marcus Rashford’s cross to score the winner, Pogba was full of praise for his team-mate’s assist.
“It was a great ball and I had the feeling to just go and shoot and it went in,”
he said.
“I volleyed it and it touched someone and went in. Sometimes, that’s the perfect goal, the perfect moment; the perfect pass makes the perfect goal. The shot wasn’t the best but it went in. I’m really happy; I’m really happy with the performance. Everyone kept the focus and we were good defensively. The performance was great.”
The match at Turf Moor featured a number of big decisions for both the on-field and VAR officials, including referee Kevin Friend disallowing a headed goal from Harry Maguire in the first half.
The skipper was alleged to have fouled Burnley defender Erik Pieters as he challenged him in the air – a decision Paul told Sky Sports he didn’t agree with.
“It was a goal for sure. I don’t know, he just jumped before [the defender], he headed, it was a beautiful goal and then the referee decided that [it was a foul]. It was a strange decision, but we got the result that we wanted so we’re happy.”
Three points in what was our game in hand means we are now top of the league table and leading the division for the first time at this stage of a season since our last title-winning campaign of 2012/13.
Recognising the achievement of reaching the summit, Paul said: “It is [big] and you know even for us and the fans it is great, but there is a long way to go. So, now we are there and we need to stay there. Now is the difficult part as well. Today was a difficult game and it’s going to be harder and harder.
“Today proved that we are really focused. That’s how we improve, that’s how we get better. Our heads are focused on the league and we need to keep it up and keep going.”