‘Paul’s very professional and hard working,’ Reveals Bailly as he tackles critics of Pogba
ERIC Bailly says that Paul Pogba is a ‘really hard worker’ and extremely professional behind the scenes even if the public image of the United star is very different.
The Reds signed Pogba for a thenworld-record fee of £89m in 2016. The Frenchman has been a contentious figure ever since, with some chastising his lack of work ethic and others praising his obvious natural ability.
Add in the known problems that his agent Mino Raiola provides and it is a recipe for controversy and opinion.
One of the main criticisms aimed at Pogba is his apparent lack of commitment to the team. It is said that he does not work hard enough, especially defensively.
However, speak to Bailly and that sentiment could not be further from the truth.
The Reds defender was asked by Guillem Balague what Pogba is really like behind the scenes, especially in contrast to public opinion.
“Paul Pogba is someone - how to qualify this? - he’s always happy, he portrays one image and if you don’t know him, you’d say that this guy doesn’t care, he’s not concentrating or fixing on what he needs to do,” he said on Balague’s Pure Football Podcast.
“But he’s not like that at all. He’s very professional and works really hard. People look and say he doesn’t care but that’s just not true for me.
“You’ve got to know him to really see what type of person he is. Above everything, he is a really hard worker, a professional player.”
Pogba was in excellent form around the turn of the year. This was
despite Raiola insisting in December that Pogba is unhappy at Old Trafford and needs a change of scenery.
“There’s no point beating about the bush. It’s better to speak out clearly, look forward and avoid wasting time to find culprits,” he told Tuttosport .
“Paul is unhappy at Man United, he can’t manage to express himself like he wants to and like people expect him to.
“He needs to change team, he needs a change of scenery. He has a contract that will expire in a year and a half, in the summer of 2022, but the best solution for all parties is a transfer in the next (summer) window.
“Otherwise the Old Trafford club, which I have a great relationship with, knows well that they would risk losing him on a free transfer, given that at the moment it’s not the player’s intention to extend the contract.
“If anybody can’t understand this, then they know little or nothing about football.
“Anyway, they’re free to direct all the blame to myself if Paul were to leave next summer.”
Pogba then suffered a thigh injury in United’s 3-3 draw with Everton on February 6 and has not featured since.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has been widely praised for his man-management of Pogba, says that the midfielder is now stepping his recovery.
“Paul has been outside on the grass and is starting to step up his recovery but he’s not near the team for this game,” he said ahead of Thursday’s Europa League draw against Real Sociedad.