Graeme Souness has told Paul Pogba to ‘put his medals on the table’ after the Manchester United star claimed he ‘didn’t know’ who the Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit was.
Souness has been one of the Frenchman’s fiercest critics since he returned to England in and has repeatedly condemned his behavior both on and off-the-field.
And after the midfielder claimed he still had no idea what the Scot looked like four years later, Souness has issued a withering response.
Graeme Souness (center) has told Paul Pogba to put his medals on the table after criticsm
Pogba has claimed he still has no idea what Sky Sports pundit Souness looks like
The Liverpool legend has been a regular critic of Pogba since his return to Manchester United
‘I’m happy with it. The oldest thing in football comes to mind – put your medals on the table ‘, he said on Sky Sports’ The Football Show on Tuesday morning.
SOUNESS ‘PREVIOUS DIGS AT POGBA
February – Souness compares Pogba’s style to a ‘schoolboy running around in the playground’
October
– Souness blasts Pogba after mistake against Chelsea and says he needs to change his attitude
– Souness thinks players. in the Manchester United dressing room don’t want Pogba there
March – Souness slams Pogba’s lengthy absence through injury and claims the midfielder does not want to play for Manchest er United
Jamie Carragher was also critical of Pogba’s comments, adding: ‘We’re quite critical of Paul Pogba, when you’re a player you’ve certainly got to be respectful of certain players with certain opinions at different times, and at times you have to take that criticism on the chin, so to come out and say you’ve never heard of Graeme Souness really was below the belt. ‘
The Frenchman has proven to be immune to criticism from Souness, and made headlines for his comments about Souness, who lifted three European Cups and three league titles at Liverpool.
‘ I didn’t even know who [Souness] was, ‘Pogba said to UTD Podcast.
‘ I heard he was a great player and stuff like that. I don’t know the face but the name [I do].
‘Like I said I’m not someone that watches a lot of [punditry], I watch a lot of football but I don’t stay after the game to listen to what they say about “Why they did this” or “why they did that”.
‘I like to focus on football.’
Pogba’s underwhelming form since he returned to the club has been a huge subject of debate
Souness hit out at Pogba for dancing at his brother’s wedding, despite being out injured
One of Souness’ most recent jabs at Pogba came in March when the Frenchman was filmed dancing at his brother’s wedding while supposedly out injured.
Souness claimed his actions showed he does not want to play for United and he claimed he expected Pogba to make a return to full fitness shortly before the now postponed Euro . He told his fellow pundits while on Sky Sports: ‘It’s just the cynic in me, I’m thinking Paul Pogba … I see him dancing at a wedding, I see him shooting hoops, and the cynic in me thinks he doesn’ t want to be at United. How can you not want to play for Man United, if that’s the case? ‘
The barbs from Souness started when Pogba first rejoined United. The Scot led the charge when it came to the criticism, insisting that United ‘had their trousers taken down paying £ (m ‘) for him.
Souness said in May 2020: ‘United have to pay a premium. For United, stick 25 per cent on the price.
‘Because it’s Man United and they have the money. In my opinion, they had their trousers taken down paying £ 100 million.
Souness predicted Pogba would return to fitness just in time for the now postponed Euro 334550
‘I’m yet to be convinced by that. He may be a player one day but right now as we sit here after one year in our football, I’m still waiting to be convinced. ‘
Late in Souness doubled down on his efforts to single Pogba out, claiming the Frenchman did not have a ‘basic understanding of his position’ .
While he did initially praise Pogba for what skills he did possess, Souness couldn’t help but stick the knife in. He said: ‘When he is on the ball, there’s lots of things to admire. He’s powerful, he’s got good technique, he can wrong foot people, he can ping the ball.
‘This isn’t me being an ex-Liverpool player caning a Man United player. I thought the same when he was a Juventus player. That is basic stuff you learn in the youth team. When is he gonna get it?
‘He hasn’t taken a big game by the scruff of the neck and dominated it. He hasn’t got a basic understanding of his position, I can’t see that changing. ‘
Following the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan last summer, Souness once again took aim at Pogba’s character by claiming he ‘was not up for the fight’ at United .
Pogba admitted he spends very little time taking note of his critics and is focused on football
Writing in
(The Times , Souness said: ‘If I’m sitting in Manchester United’s dressing room today, I’m glad Romelu Lukaku has gone and don’t want Paul Pogba in there with me either if he’s not up for the fight ahead and is also keen to get away.
‘They’re as responsible as anybody for the predicament United are in, yet have effectively said to their team-mates:’ It’s everybody else’s fault. ‘ ‘No, let’s get it right, lads, you’re part of the reason United are not in the Champions League this year’. ‘
But Pogba also admitted he spends very little time taking note of his critics, saying ‘when you know football, you don’t need someone to tell you what’s happening ‘.
‘ I guess they miss me, I don’t know? I’m not someone that looks at always at Sky News, ‘he added.
‘ After the games, when I watch it again I watch the game, not the comments. When you know football, you don’t need someone to tell you what’s happening.
‘Obviously what I hear when people are saying “Paul is doing this … Paul … Paul “I don’t know. One day maybe I will meet them [the critics] and ask them because I really want to know why.
‘I am used to it now. I am really used to it, it does not bother me. It’s good to hear good stuff instead of bad stuff but when you play football, you know yourself. It’s what your manager and team-mates want, the rest is just talk. It’s selling stuff I think. ‘
Pogba has been sidelined for the majority of the current campaign with an ankle injury. He has made just eight appearances all season, failing to score and providing two assists.
February – Souness compares Pogba’s style to a ‘schoolboy running around in the playground’
October
March – Souness slams Pogba’s lengthy absence through injury and claims the midfielder does not want to play for Manchest er United
The Frenchman has proven to be immune to criticism from Souness, and made headlines for his comments about Souness, who lifted three European Cups and three league titles at Liverpool.
‘ I didn’t even know who [Souness] was, ‘Pogba said to UTD Podcast.
‘ I heard he was a great player and stuff like that. I don’t know the face but the name [I do].
‘Like I said I’m not someone that watches a lot of [punditry], I watch a lot of football but I don’t stay after the game to listen to what they say about “Why they did this” or “why they did that”.
‘I like to focus on football.’
Pogba’s underwhelming form since he returned to the club has been a huge subject of debate
One of Souness’ most recent jabs at Pogba came in March when the Frenchman was filmed dancing at his brother’s wedding while supposedly out injured.
Souness claimed his actions showed he does not want to play for United and he claimed he expected Pogba to make a return to full fitness shortly before the now postponed Euro . He told his fellow pundits while on Sky Sports: ‘It’s just the cynic in me, I’m thinking Paul Pogba … I see him dancing at a wedding, I see him shooting hoops, and the cynic in me thinks he doesn’ t want to be at United. How can you not want to play for Man United, if that’s the case? ‘
The barbs from Souness started when Pogba first rejoined United. The Scot led the charge when it came to the criticism, insisting that United ‘had their trousers taken down paying £ (m ‘) for him.
Souness said in May 2020: ‘United have to pay a premium. For United, stick 25 per cent on the price.
‘Because it’s Man United and they have the money. In my opinion, they had their trousers taken down paying £ 100 million.
Souness predicted Pogba would return to fitness just in time for the now postponed Euro 334550
‘I’m yet to be convinced by that. He may be a player one day but right now as we sit here after one year in our football, I’m still waiting to be convinced. ‘
Late in Souness doubled down on his efforts to single Pogba out, claiming the Frenchman did not have a ‘basic understanding of his position’ .
While he did initially praise Pogba for what skills he did possess, Souness couldn’t help but stick the knife in. He said: ‘When he is on the ball, there’s lots of things to admire. He’s powerful, he’s got good technique, he can wrong foot people, he can ping the ball.
‘This isn’t me being an ex-Liverpool player caning a Man United player. I thought the same when he was a Juventus player. That is basic stuff you learn in the youth team. When is he gonna get it?
‘He hasn’t taken a big game by the scruff of the neck and dominated it. He hasn’t got a basic understanding of his position, I can’t see that changing. ‘
Following the sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan last summer, Souness once again took aim at Pogba’s character by claiming he ‘was not up for the fight’ at United .
Pogba admitted he spends very little time taking note of his critics and is focused on football
‘They’re as responsible as anybody for the predicament United are in, yet have effectively said to their team-mates:’ It’s everybody else’s fault. ‘ ‘No, let’s get it right, lads, you’re part of the reason United are not in the Champions League this year’. ‘
But Pogba also admitted he spends very little time taking note of his critics, saying ‘when you know football, you don’t need someone to tell you what’s happening ‘.
‘ I guess they miss me, I don’t know? I’m not someone that looks at always at Sky News, ‘he added.
‘ After the games, when I watch it again I watch the game, not the comments. When you know football, you don’t need someone to tell you what’s happening.
‘Obviously what I hear when people are saying “Paul is doing this … Paul … Paul “I don’t know. One day maybe I will meet them [the critics] and ask them because I really want to know why.
‘I am used to it now. I am really used to it, it does not bother me. It’s good to hear good stuff instead of bad stuff but when you play football, you know yourself. It’s what your manager and team-mates want, the rest is just talk. It’s selling stuff I think. ‘
Pogba has been sidelined for the majority of the current campaign with an ankle injury. He has made just eight appearances all season, failing to score and providing two assists.
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