Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba does not have the foundations to become a real leader for the Red Devils, according to former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus.
The 1990 Fifa World Cup winner believes Liverpool club legend Steven Gerrard is the perfect role model for all potential captains.
Comparing the two players, Matthaus says Pogba is not capable of putting the team before his own agenda and believes the Frenchman draws focus to himself.
“People ask whether Paul Pogba can be a leader or a captain at Manchester United,” said Matthaus via Manchester Evening News.
“He is a key player, a good player and he plays in the right position, but for me he isn’t a real leader like (Steven) Gerrard. You have to be really serious all the time – you can’t always be everywhere on social media.
“For me, Pogba shows too much of himself. I can’t say he’s a player who can push the team, because he’s focus so much on himself.
“If you want to be a captain or a leader, you always have to give the feeling that you’re thinking for the team, not just yourself.”
Who says Pogba’s not a ‘real leader’?
Perhaps it is unfair to label Pogba as incapable of wearing the captain’s armband.
After all, the Frenchman is still just 25-years of age and, despite his obvious talents with a football at his feet, it is safe to assume that he is still learning how to adjust his behaviour so that there is a balance between his lifestyle, his place among the United squad and his persona throughout the British media.
He was given the responsibility of being vice-captain at Manchester United. This would not have just been based on his footballing abilities but on the specific personality traits that persuaded Mourinho to give him the role in the first place.
Of course, it would be slightly naive to think that Pogba’s permanent links away from the club may have had something to do with giving him more leadership and authority in the United set-up but nevertheless, he was entrusted with the duty at one of the world’s biggest footballing clubs at a young age.
As we know, this responsibility has now been relinquished following a number of poor performances and inappropriate comments to the press. United great Paul Scholes criticised the side after their 3-2 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion earlier in the Premier League campaign.
Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola hit back at Scholes with a tweet stating: “Some people need to talk for fear of being forgotten. Paul Scholes wouldn’t recognise a leader if he was in front of Sir Winston Churchill.”
It is these types of actions that smear the Pogba brand across the nation despite the fact that this response – which understandably received a backlash of criticism from former United stars and supporters alike – had nothing to do with Pogba but yet it is a fine example of an unfair condemnation of the man’s character.
Vive la France
How different it is for the Frenchman across the pond. We all know how France enjoyed their summer holidays by watching their side lift the World Cup in Russia, their first World Cup triumph in 20 years.
Pogba’s talents were a massive part of this. His genius in the middle of the park, the ability to balance his defensive duties with his attacking nature and his goal in the World Cup final win over Croatia was evidence of class under pressure.
What people forget – or rather – choose to forget, is how inspirational Pogba was off the pitch. This young man was a driving force in the heart of that squad.
You may or may not have seen the video of Pogba delivering an inspirational speech to the entire dressing room ahead of their quarter-final victory over South American side Uruguay but it is a sight to behold.
Not only the confidence that Pogba has in speaking to a room of talented, experienced and in some cases, older professionals, but the fact that all around him are hanging off each word that leaves his mouth.
France manager Didier Deschamps couldn’t speak more highly of the former Juventus man, admitting that Pogba’s true character is clouded by pretence and guesswork.
“He has taken many things upon himself. He has been a leader,” Deschamps said (via the Guardian).
“Each time he had to talk and express himself it was always very positive. It’s the words he uses and the atmosphere and feeling that comes across. He is not the only one but he is one of the leaders who took it upon himself because the group needed it. On the pitch he did what needed to be done as well.
“There are a few things people ought to know. First of all there is an image of Paul that doesn’t correspond to who he is.
“Maybe it is because he is a bit eccentric, a bit demonstrative. He has been with me since 2013 – that is five years now – and the way he functions is not about him for himself, it is him as part of the group. That is really important.”
The Pogba verdict
Whatever your views on Pogba, remember this. He is young, he is hungry, he is ambitious but most importantly he is human. He will make mistakes but the test will be whether he can learn from them.
Whether the situation at United is resolved in the coming months or not is anyone’s guess. His relationship with Mourinho seems to have dissolved into a toxic partnership that may force at least one of the involved parties out of the club.
However, you can guarantee that when Pogba retires, amid all of the controversies, the good moments will by far outweigh the bad.
Expect to see him captain of a domestic side before his career is done.
The post “He’s no Steven Gerrard?” Who says Paul Pogba is not a real leader? appeared first on Squawka News.
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