Jurgen Klopp has hailed Paul Pogba as a ‘world-class’ midfielder ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United on Sunday.
Pogba hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons so far, giving away possession 256 times and losing 105 duels in the Premier League so far, more than any other Manchester United player, while only goalkeeper David De Gea (166) has misplaced more passes than Pogba (139).
Is Paul Pogba truly world-class? Five key things to know…
- After winning four Serie A titles with Juventus, Pogba rejoined Manchester United in 2016.
- The 25-year-old moved for a reported £89m, a then-world record fee.
- Pogba has made over 108 appearances since then, winning the League Cup and Europa League in 2017.
- The Frenchman, however, has only scored 20 goals since his Old Trafford return and has especially struggled for form this season.
- Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp still regards him as world class, ahead of their meeting this weekend.
But ahead of the latest clash between these two fierce rivals, Klopp is not allowing Pogba’s form to cloud his judgment and has admitted his side will still be prepared for the threat of the French World Cup winner.
Klopp said: “Paul Pogba is a world class player. That is all I can say. He is a Man Utd player. I think we should prepare for him [to play] as well.”
The German was then asked if Pogba was a player he would like to manage, to which he responded: “You know better than I what happens when I give an answer to that question.”
Klopp also jibed: “Do you ask Jose Mourinho about Gini Wijnaldum?!”
Liverpool have had just one win in their last 10 meetings with Manchester United, coming in the Europa League in 2016. However, Klopp is confident the Reds can turn that recent run around and said he is looking forward to an ‘intense’ game.
“Sometimes we haven’t got the results we deserved. We haven’t won a lot but we will try to change that,” he added. “I know it will be a very intense game and we will be ready for that.
“I don’t think we won a lot (against Manchester United in the Premier League), so we will try to change that.
“This week we reached a big target in the Champions League, we had one day to feel the relief of that. Since yesterday we are back on track. I’m really looking forward to it. Big one.”
Pogba set for January Man Utd exit?
Pogba has been anything but convincing during his time back in Manchester, with the 25-year-old seemingly capable of as many blunders as he is brilliance.
And after starring for France as Les Bleus won the World Cup over the summer, Pogba has returned to Old Trafford once again in inconsistent form.
Many of Pogba’s struggles could be put down to his fractious relationship with manager Jose Mourinho, with the pair exchanging multiple heated moments during in their time at the club.
And ex-Man United midfielder Paul Ince thinks this could see Pogba leave the club during the January transfer window.
“I can see Pogba leaving in January. It’s all set up for him to go. It feels like he will be gone,” Ince told the Evening Standard.
“That’s a shame because he’s world class and how much of it is about his relationship with the manager?
“With Pogba and Mourinho it’s become Coronation Street. It’s not gone away. When that happens it affects the rest of the players.”
Ince continued by referencing Alexis Sanchez as another top-class player who has struggled since coming under Mourinho’s tutelage.
“Why are United getting top class players who are not performing? When you think about the way Alexis Sanchez was at Arsenal, he’s a completely different player now.
“Pogba was outstanding at Juventus. It was a different style there and he’s suffering now.
“The style has to change or you have to bring in players that fit your philosophy.”
The post Jurgen Klopp hails “world-class” Paul Pogba ahead of Liverpool v Man Utd appeared first on Squawka News.
From Squawka NewsSquawka News https://ift.tt/2EtLQ79
No comments:
Post a Comment