Paul Pogba needs to stop trying to be like Andrea Pirlo – Graeme Souness
Paul Pogba (Getty) Paul Pogba should stop seeing himself as a central midfielder like Andrea Pirlo b..
Paul Pogba should stop seeing himself as a central midfielder like Andrea Pirlo because he too often looks lost in the role, says Graeme Souness.
There is some debate over the Frenchman’s best position at Manchester United, with Pogba having been deployed in both a deep midfield role and further advanced.
Souness, an outspoken critic of Pogba’s, thinks the £89million-man is trying to model himself on Pirlo but in doing so is making a mistake.
‘Manchester United and the player himself have still not worked out where he would best be deployed,’ he wrote in his column for The Times.
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‘I have the impression Pogba sees himself as a playmaker in the mould of Andre Pirlo. He is not that.
‘If he wants to become a central midfielder of that ilk, he should not be straying beyond the 18-yard line on either side of the pitch unless it is to shut down an opposition move. Too often, he looks lost in that role.’
Souness suggested Pogba is better in a role that gives him more freedom.
‘For the moment, he is much better when given licence to move into wide areas, usually on the left, where his dribbling skills and energy levels are best used. He did this to good effect against Everton on Monday.’
Manchester United 2017/18 Fixtures
Stoke City (H) – Mon Jan 15
Burnley (A) – Sat Jan 20
Tottenham (A) – Wed Jan 31
Huddersfield (H) – Sat Feb 3
Newcastle (A) – Sun Feb 11
Sevilla (A) – Wed Feb 21 (Champions League)
Chelsea (H) – Sun Feb 25
Crystal Palace (A) – Sun Mar 3
Liverpool (H) – Sat Mar 10
Sevilla (H) – Tue Mar 13 (Champions League)
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Souness also had some advice for Jose Mourinho, who he believes should be using his energy trying to draw the best out of his most expensive player.
‘It is getting the best out of the Frenchman rather than the spending power of Man City or the thoughts of Paul Scholes that should be occupying Jose Mourinho’s thoughts.’
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