France has ‘enormous goodwill’ for Paul Pogba regardless of Man United struggles

Paul Pogba’s emotional comeback proved the amount of goodwill he has – Monaco are celebrating how much he’s done for French football.

That is the opinion of European football expert Andy Brassell, who assessed the midfielder’s competitive return after a two-year ban.

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The 2018 World Cup-winning midfielder, who signed for Ligue 1 side Monaco in the summer, has seen his comeback best by injuries.

However, Pogba had a late cameo in a 4-1 away defeat to Rennes last month ahead of making his home debut against Paris Saint-Germain.

The 32-year-old again emerged in the latter stages, helping ten-man Monaco secure a famous 1-0 win over the reigning champions.

After the final whistle blew, Pogba proceeded to thank the Stade Louis II crowd for their support in an emotional speech.

The ex-France international has previously revealed he didn’t feel any love from Manchester United fans during his second spell at the club.

He was then hampered by injuries upon his return to Juventus, playing 162 minutes across five matches during the 2022/23 season.

Pogba then tested positive for a banned testosterone substance following a game against Udinese on August 20, 2023.

His Juve contract was terminated by mutual consent last December, while he has been plagued by serious off-field issues as well.

Monaco have now allowed Pogba to play a competitive game in his home country for the first time, where he remains beloved.

Brassell exclusively told talkSPORT.com: “Part of the beauty of playing for Monaco is that they do have quite a small support.

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“It is a place where footballers aren’t really the most famous people around.

“You do just get this ability to get on with it and kind of cocoon yourself from the football world, which I think from Pogba and everything he’s been through over the last two or three years.

“That is a massive advantage for him in terms of him trying to get himself up on his feet again – it seems to be going quite well so far.

“Now, obviously, they’ve been very careful in terms of gradually getting him back into the team. Clearly, a home win over PSG in your home debut is pretty good. And it’s a great moment for him.”

Pogba called on the Monaco ultras to give more following the win over the Champions League holders, and was applauded afterwards.

“What has been the noticeable thing so far is just what an enormous amount of goodwill there is for Paul Pogba,” Brassell added.

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‘Pogba, what a massive letdown he was for Man United’

“Now, obviously, there’ll be people reading this or listening to this or watching this thinking, Paul Pogba, what a massive letdown he was for Manchester United.

“There are not too many people in France who are bothered about that, to be honest.

“They think of him as the guy who was one of the key guys in a beloved World Cup-winning team of 2018.

“The fact that he is a player whom France could really rely on. Now, of course, he’s had injuries. He’s had the off-field stuff since.

“Everything that he’s had to put up with, and particularly the court case, involving members of his family being involved in a plot to extort him, by the way, just to recall that, it’s horrendous.

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“For him to get past all of that and get himself back in a position to play professional football is already a success.

“Whether he plays, makes five starts, 10 starts, 15 starts, whatever for the rest of the season, it almost doesn’t matter.

“I’m sure it means a great deal to him, but the fact that he’s got himself in a place where he can play again.

“What must be a massive boost for him is to get back and be shown the love by the football fans of France. That must be a massive deal to him.”

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The goodwill in his homeland was particularly highlighted during his official comeback after an 800-plus day absence at Rennes.

Despite Monaco being 4-0 down at the time of his introduction, Pogba was given an ovation by both sets of fans as he came on.

Brassell continued: “Obviously, the Rennes fans might not have been the same if they weren’t 4-0 up, but the way they chanted his name as well, not just the Monaco fans, the home fans, the Rennes fans applauded him, gave him a standing ovation, sang his name. I think that was a moment that you could tell was hugely emotional for him.

“We saw that with Ousmane Dembélé, and despite the tension of a game that PSG were trying to get back into, embracing Pogba as he came on the pitch as well on Saturday when Monaco played PSG.

“Just on the field and in the stands, there is such an enormous sense of, you’ve done a lot for French football, and now we want you to do well. We want you to have a happy last couple of years of your career.”