If Paul Pogba thinks Jose Mourinho is a tough taskmaster, he’ll be thankful he’s never been managed by Graeme Souness.
The former Liverpool captain and manager has criticised Pogba on several occasions this season. Even when the Manchester United midfielder has played well, Souness has seemed incapable of praising him. According to the former Newcastle United manager, Pogba lacks “a basic understanding of his position.”
So, with Pogba in poor form in recent weeks, Souness was ready and waiting to have his say on the French midfielder before United’s game with Chelsea at Old Trafford, and he didn’t hold back.
“I’m not really sure of what type of midfield player he is,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I think he’d like to be a playmaker. Maybe one day that might be his best position but when you have that much power, energy and athleticism, utilise that – be someone that can get box to box, someone that every time the ball goes wide, you’re 6ft 4in, get in the box, no-one wants to pick him up if he arrives late into the box. Right now I see a young man lost in the game, I’m not sure he knows what he’s doing in a game when I watch him.”
Souness’ claim that Pogba doesn’t know what he’s doing in a match, and that he is a “young man lost in the game” might be his strongest criticism of the 24-year-old to date. He also said Mourinho was “forced to play” Pogba because of injuries to other players.
