A former Manchester United assistant coach, Rene Meulensteen, has distanced Paul Pogba form the category of a world-class player.
This comes after the Frenchman orchestrated United’s Old Trafford defeat to Arsenal after giving away a penalty with a sloppy challenge on Hector Bellerin.
Although the 27-year-old had taken the blame and apologised for his mistake, Meulensteen says that Pogba doesn’t deserve the accolade of a world-class player.
Speaking on his performance, Meulensteen told talkSPORT at the start of the week: “He is a very talented player. Everyone keeps talking about him – he’s world class, he’s world class.
“I would never use world-class so easily because I know players past and present and they deserve the accolade of being world-class. In my opinion, Paul doesn’t deserve that in any shape or form because I don’t think he’s lived up to expectations.”
United’s gaffer, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is, however, of a different opinion about his prized asset who has been influential for the club since rejoining for Juventus.
Speaking at this lunchtime’s pre-match press conference ahead of tonight’s Champions League game against Istanbul Basaksehir, the manager insisted that the Frenchman is still recovering from last season’s injury and from his recent infection with COVID-19.
‘Every player is frustrated himself and disappointed after the defeat and we need consistency from every one of our players,’ Solskjaer said.
‘Paul’s been going through a difficult period with an injury last season and the COVID-19 now, he’s working up to fitness”.
‘I think we’ve seen plenty of positives lately, so, hopefully, that can continue.’
The boss was then asked what his response was to Pogba’s comments after the game, in which he claimed that he conceded the penalty because he was out of breath.
‘Any situation, you’re a fit lad, and Paul knows that exact incident he could have dealt with better and he’s held his hand up. That’s how it is in a game of football. The fitter you are, the more you can do, and that goes for every footballer around the world.’
United head to the Goodison Park to face Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton side who have enjoyed a good start to the season so far.
