Bayern Munich star and France international Kingsley Coman has explained why his fellow countryman Paul Pogba found it very tough to be consistent at Manchester United.
Having left the club as a youngster, Pogba made a heroic return to United in 2016 for a then-world record fee of £89m.
However, his second spell at Old Trafford was largely disappointing, with the player failing to regularly come up with the goods on the pitch.
He frequently found himself on the wrong end of criticism from supporters, the media and ex-players, who all felt he could offer so much more.
Coman, who has played with Pogba several times for the French national team, spoke on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast and had his say on the Carrington academy graduate’s woes in England.
“I was sad about his time at Man United because I also felt like Man U was asking him to do too much. You know when I think also his time his start to decline a bit.”
“I think he was still as good but people ask him to score while he’s a midfield player. To do assist, to do everything. I think at one point he was even like the best goal scorer and assist man.”
“This is not what you ask of a midfield player and when they ask you so much and that you can’t do your regular game. When you’re in the middle and you just give the ball to the people then you always need to do crazy things and even though he was the best you cannot play crazy and score.”
Coman added, “I think this is what this was and I really don’t think it was his fault. Obviously then maybe after he could have done something but I was really like when you ask him too much then was like you don’t ask him what you will ask from any other midfielder in the world.”
“So then you need to play and then you lose more ball because you need to do more….because they’re expecting you to do so much. It’s impossible…”
“The regular game where you just take the ball and give it to the guy that will make the difference. They were like Pogba was not good today, didn’t do anything.”
Pogba won the League Cup and Europa League with United, making 226 appearances in total across six seasons before departing for Juventus for a second time in his career.
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
