Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man Utd star Pogba told to COPY Chelsea and Liverpool players - 'He would admit it's true'
MANCHESTER UNITED star Paul Pogba cannot be regarded as one of the best players in the world unless he mirrors the top performers at Chelsea and Liverpool, Andy Gray claims.
Paul Pogba shows impressive skills in France training
French World Cup winner Pogba has struggled to impress at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho.
Pogba has also had numerous bust-ups with the Special One during his time at Manchester United.
The £89m midfielder was stripped as United vice-captain this season, with Mourinho claiming Pogba didn’t have the qualities for the role.
And pundit Gray says Pogba must become more consistent - like Eden Hazard or Mohamed Salah - to be considered one of the world’s top players.
Paul would have to admit, if he’s honest, that he’s been nowhere near consistent enough for United
“He is regarded as one of the best footballers around so he has to influence games. He has to do it consistently,” Gray told beIN Sports.
“A bit like Eden Hazard has done it this season at Chelsea, game in, game out. Pogba has to do that, but I don’t think he is.
“I don’t think he’s done it since a little spell at the start of last season when he had six or seven decent games.
“Paul would have to admit, if he’s honest, that he’s been nowhere near consistent enough for Manchester United.”
When asked if Pogba can be called one of the world’s best, Gray said: “No, you can’t [say that].
“You can’t call him that, because he quite simply isn’t. I can think of four or five players at Manchester City that are playing better than Pogba right now.
“I can think of Eden Hazard at Chelsea. Mo Salah, although he’s not had a great start goal wise, he’s played much better than Pogba, he’s influencing football matches.
“Roberto Firmino, I can think of all these players.
“For Paul to get where he should be, he should be at that level consistently.
“I’m talking about going in against Chelsea and dominating a game, the way [Paul] Scholes, [Roy] Keane and [Cristiano] Ronaldo did.
“The way he did at Juventus. He has to do it more.”
Pogba struggled to shine against Juventus last night as the Italian giants won 1-0 at Old Trafford in the Champions League.