This hadn’t happened to him in almost three years. This Saturday, on the occasion of his AS Monaco team’s trip to Metz (1-2, 32nd day of Ligue 1), Paul Pogba was started. A first since May 14, 2023, when he was still wearing the colors of Juventus. However, the performance of the French midfielder, returning from three years of adventures of all kinds, did not really convince.
Observers were obviously attentive to this first appearance of “the Pickaxe” at the kick-off of an official match. And it is clear that they were disappointed. AS Monaco as a whole largely missed the point during the first period. But the personal performance of the 2018 world champion was particularly harshly judged by a former Luxembourg international.
Having become a consultant for RMC, Maxime Chanot went quite strong in his comment and according to him, Paul Pogba would simply no longer have the means to achieve his ambitions, even if they were modest. “I found it very, very average. He can no longer…” The ex-footballer who played for New York City FC and Los Angeles FC continued his reasoning.
“I think that today, Paul Pogba can no longer play in Ligue 1.”
Explaining that it was not about ball level, Maxime Chanot added: “He has a way of playing with the ball that is just exceptional, but he can’t defend. » And to take an example seen during Saturday’s match. “At the start of the meeting, he is racing with (Jessy Deminguet)he makes a sliding tackle but he is forced to tackle because the player gave him two, three meters on two or three steps. »
Paul Pogba, a “mediocre” performance
Sound of bell hardly more cheerful on the side of The Team where the follower of the ASM, Régis Testelin, gave his impressions:
“What did we see? It was average, if not mediocre. » The journalist took care to recall the complicated period experienced by Paul Pogba in recent years.
The midfielder nevertheless continues to recover slowly but surely, while gaining minutes of play. At the end of the season, it will be time for him and AS Monaco to take stock of the rest of the journey. Will Paul Pogba continue in Ligue 1 or will he go to another championship?
