Paul Pogba, the verdict falls

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By: Nicolas Gerbault

Paul Pogba, the verdict falls

AS Monaco player since last summer, Paul Pogba, 33, played his sixth match of the season, starting for the very first time, on Saturday against Metz. It was very laborious.

The 2018 world champion Paul Pogba will probably not help AS Monaco in the final sprint, while SĂ©bastien Pocognoli’s team has just overtaken OM to find themselves 6th in Ligue 1, with for the moment three points less than OL and Losc, tied in 3rd place and who play this Sunday. “La Pioche” did not convince during his very first start of the season during the Rouge et Blanc’s trip to Metz on Saturday evening. He had not started a professional football match since May 14, 2023 during a Juventus-Cremonese match.

The Principality club snatched victory at the end of the match with an achievement from Ansu Fati (91st), while the Saint-Symphorien residents opened the scoring through Jessy Deminguet (49th) before an equalizer from the essential Folarin Balogun (61st).

For his sixth appearance of the season, Paul Pogba, who is already 33 years old, did not exist at all in the recovery or recovery by being associated with Lamine Camara in the double pivot of 3-4-2-1. After 56 balls touched, for four duels won out of seven, no chances created, a long attempt too soft and a header from a corner, the former Manchester United player was replaced by Aladji Bamba in the 58th minute.

Pogba can no longer play in Ligue 1

Paul Pogba did not convince many people for his return to a starting eleven. He is not physically on loan. Or he no longer has the physique to perform at the highest level. He should return to the sidelines against Lille then Strasbourg during the last two days of the French championship, he who is under contract until 2027 with ASM.

In theAfter Foot on RMC, Maxime Chanot analyzed: “I found it very, very average. Today he can no longer play in Ligue 1. With the ball, he has a way of playing that is just exceptional, but at one point, he is forced to tackle because the player has taken him two, three steps ahead. With the ball, I really like it, it’s always so elegant, but in defensive midfield, in a team that defends, we forget.” This RMC consultant is a central defender born in Nancy, trained at ASNL, who had a great career in MLS (2021 champion with New York City) and was a Luxembourg international from 2013 to 2024 (72 caps).

Nicolas Gerbault

Written by:

Nicolas Gerbault

Nicolas Gerbault is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Nicolas discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Nicolas enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.