Paul Pogba takes 26-step penalty against Everton

The Manchester United midfielder’s penalty style brought back memories of Simone Zaza's bizarre penalty miss for Italy at Euro 2016.

Pogba's eventual goal in the win over Everton came following a staggering run-up which took 26 steps. His spot kick was saved by Pickford, but he stuck in the rebound.

Jordan Elgott pointed out on social media that Pogba's steps from start to finish took more time than Usain Bolt takes to run 100m.

"I was fortunate,”  "What’s important is the ball went in and I scored the goal, it’s nice for the team and me. After we carried on and created other scoring chances, the most important thing was the three points." Paul Pogba shortly after the game 

Recently, Pogba has been known with a trademark of big run-ups with little steps for penalties.

Here is his penalty stats for this season:

	Number of steps	Result
vs Leicester	17	Scored
vs Brighton	8	Scored
vs Burnley	18	Saved
vs Young Boyd	23	Scored
vs Everton	26	Saved, scored rebound

This season, Pogba has taken a total of 92 steps across his five penalties, with an average of 18.4 steps per penalty and two of them saved.

So is it high time Pogba changed this technique and go for a more conventional run-up? 

"The motive is I try to destabilise the goalkeeper. Probably, they know how I take penalties. If the keepers know my step, Maybe I should practise to change it." Pogba said

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho

and France World Cup winner Pogba have endured a difficult relationship this season, but despite the miss, the Portuguese backed the frenchman. 

"What I like is the desire to take it. I don't like Mickey Mouses, fragile players who are frightened and go: 'I don't like taking penalties.' I dislike that.” Mourinho disclosed

"I like players with the mentality, 'I want to take the penalty' for instance, the Crystal Palace player Luka Milivojevic. He didn’t convert his spot kick against Everton and today they were awarded two penalties against Arsenal and he was willing to it.

"Paul can be likened to that. Can he improve? Yes, I think he can. The goalkeepers are aware of his running, they don't move and they always wait until the last second for his decision so he needs to learn from that but what is the most important thing to me is he wants to take it again."

"If he will convert it that's all that matters. He can take 62 steps or more if he wants. That is his style and if he scores that is all we care about." Young added