It cannot be easy having the whole expectations of a nation placed on your shoulders at the age of 23, but that’s what’s happened to Paul Pogba.
Even before his world record transfer to Manchester United, fans were constantly disappointed because the former Juventus midfielder didn’t light the pitch up with incredible performances.
They were just, you know, decent to good performances.
Well, the player finally answered his critics, or at least shut them up a little, with a fine display against the Netherlands in France’s World Cup qualifier on Monday night, capped off by scoring the only goal of the match with a cracking long shot the keeper could only help into his own net.
A thoroughly deserved rating, according to former France midfielder Alain Boghossian.
Speaking to the French newspaper, the 1998 World Cup winner said: “His display? Excellent. Mostly by simplicity and availability. He knew how when to play long, when to play short. This is the kind of game we expect from him. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Of course, there’s the goal but he doesn’t have to feel as if it’s an obligation. We know that, technically, he’s capable of extraordinary things, he’s already showed that at club level, but I just want to say he doesn’t need to add on top of that. His greatest strength last night was his simplicity.”
The former Marseille midfielder also felt we might witness some even better performances from him in the future, but only if the player maintained, you guessed it, his simplicity.
He added: “Normally, in his bad patches at least, he adds an extra touch or two, or does a trick too many, which wastes opportunities for his teammates. Here, no, it was simple, lucid, clear.
“In previous games, we had the feeling he was always trying to show us what he can do. A way of saying: Here, I’m Paul Pogba. I’m convinced he needs to impose himself through his simplicity, and I feel like he’s understood it. His lack of celebration after the goal makes me think that.”
For any aspiring midfielders out there, take note.
One word: simplicity.
