MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Jose Mourinho has labelled Paul Pogba the best midfielder in the world, but expects the France star to be even better next season.
The Red Devils forked out a world-record fee to re-sign Pogba from Serie A champions Juventus and the 23-year-old is starting to hit top form after initially struggling at Old Trafford this term.
Mourinho is adamant that more is to come from Pogba, though, and backed him to eventually win the Ballon d’Or, if the prize is judged on more than goals alone.
“People have to change the way they look at the Ballon d’Or. At the moment, it is almost as if you cannot win it if you are not a goalscorer,” Mourinho told SFR Sport.
“It was a miracle that [Franz] Beckenbauer, [Fabio] Cannavaro or even a midfielder like [Luis] Figo won it. Because now it seems impossible to win if you are not a goalscorer.
“If that perception changes, Paul can win the Ballon d’Or. Paul is a midfielder, not a goalscorer. But he will score more and more goals because he has the characteristics to score goals.
“But he is a midfielder, and in my opinion the best midfielder in the world. He is obviously young, needs to improve and wants to improve, which is even better.
“He has an agent [Mino Raiola] who is great for him. He is not a typical agent who puts the player on the moon. He demands a lot from Paul and wants him to get better all the time. So everything around him is there to become a great player.
“The Premier League is a very difficult league. He was in Serie A before, where he played for four years. The Premier League is completely different, but he is doing well, more than well. His evolution is clear. I can imagine next year for Paul is going to be top.”
Pogba has netted five goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for United this term.
They don’t make any Paul McGraths anymore!
David Luiz doesn’t look like the first cousin of a defender…
It’s not that defenders are overated, I’d say the likes of Kompany Thiago Silva and Lahm are rather underrated. People prefer to see ball playing centre backs but then hang these players out to dry when there’s defensive problems. There is definitely a shift in how they play but if you teach a dog to chase a ball will he be able to climb a tree? If you teach a defender to be skillful and use the ball efficiently can you expect him to put in tough tackles and be a defensive mind player? The game would do well to remember its roots and try and amend the lack of ‘no-nonsense’ defenders
The best defensively set up team out there has to be Atletico Madrid. Simeone has organisation drilled into every player who starts, particularly in the back line. Can anyone name a better defender at defending than Diego Godin?
Great article.
I’ll hand it to Paul, this was a good article.
Cannavaro had it all. He was irrational at times, but by god, he was brilliant.
On the one hand – the hard men at centre back was a great facet to the game.
On the other hand – Feck it, more goals per game.
I just wonder if the ever-decreasing tolerance for physicality in the game has simply lead to these types not being considered by scouts and coaches, in lieu of ball-players that’ll make defenders.
Good article, the all-nonsense David Luiz made me laugh.
I always loved Alessandro Nesta. A God of a defender!
Best article I’ve read here in a while…..Bravo!
Brilliant insight, had never thought of the Brazil/arsenal comparison.
I started reading this. I’m not long out if bed and a bit tired. Then I scrolled down and there was alot to read. So I stopped.