In an interview on Monday (via The Evening Standard), France boss Didier Deschamps weighed in on Paul Pogba’s current situation at Manchester United as he said, “He is in a situation with his club where he cannot be happy, neither with his playing time, nor with his positioning.
“He is not in his best period, he has had a series of injuries and the Covid-19 which has hit him quite hard. He needs to find his rhythm.
“With me, there is no such concern. When a player is in discomfort in his club, obviously, he is happy to play for the France team.
“He will tell me about his feelings and as I know him very well, it will go in a positive direction.”
Pogba’s Growing Struggles Under Solskjaer’s Stewardship This Season
The French international has endured a tough start to this Premier League campaign as he is yet to open his goal-scoring account after appearing in seven league matches for the Red Devils so far. Pogba has registered one goal and two assists in 11 fixtures in the UEFA Champions League and the EFL Cup this season which is far from a decent record for a player of his quality.
The 27-year-old has lacked confidence whenever he has gotten a start under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tutelage in recent weeks. He is averaging 1.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.6 shots and 1.4 dribbles per game in the English top-flight. His ball-distribution also has a lot of room for improvement as he has made only 79.9% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
Pogba should consider ending his Old Trafford nightmare next summer, especially if he keeps underperforming for Man United in the remainder of this campaign. He has got less than two years remaining on his current contract with the Red Devils, so it makes sense for him to take a pay-cut and seal a move elsewhere in search of a fresh start away from the Theatre of Dreams.
What Does The French International Offer On The Field?
On his day, Pogba can be a world-class playmaker and a be potent goal-threat in the opposition half. However, since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes, he has often been deployed as a holding midfielder which has caused his numbers to go down in the attacking third of the field.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is struggling to perform at his best and has been far too injury-prone in recent years. Still, he is a class act in midfield and could potentially walk into most teams in Europe.
Is Pogba’s Time With Man United Nearing Its Conclusion?
Unless Pogba manages to turn his fortunes for the better in the coming months, it seems like his time with the Red Devils could very well come to an end sooner rather than later. Solskjaer should focus on getting a significant fee for him by cutting him loose before he enters the final year of his contract next season. At 27, Pogba is entering the prime stage of his football career, so it remains to be seen whether he can rediscover his old form and win some major trophies in the years to come.
