Paul Pogba: ‘I don’t even know who Graeme Souness is, really’ | Football

The Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has claimed he did not know who his long-term critic Graeme Souness was.

Souness, in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, has often questioned Pogba’s attitude. But the France international, whose season has been restricted to eight appearances because of injury, said he takes little notice of the criticism.

“I didn’t even know who he was, really,” Pogba told the United podcast. “I heard he was a great player and stuff like that. I know the face but [not] the name. 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.”

Souness – the former Liverpool midfielder who won three European Cups, five league titles and three League Cups while with the club – responded to Pogba on Sky Sports News on Tuesday morning. “I’m happy with that,” the Scot said. “The oldest saying in football comes to mind: ‘Put your medals on the table.’ I’ve got a big table.”

Pogba, a World Cup winner with France, has not played since Boxing Day having had a setback following foot surgery, but that has not stopped him being a topical subject for the media. The former Juventus midfielder has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford whenever the transfer window reopens and at press conferences is often asked about his future, despite his long-term injury.

Pogba takes it all on the chin for now, but admits maybe he would like to meet the people who are so critical of him. “I guess they miss me, I don’t know? I’m not someone that looks always at Sky Sports News,” Pogba said of the continued attention on him.

“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. One day maybe I will meet them [the critics] and ask them because I really want to know why. I am doing my recovery, I can be somewhere else and I hear something but I’m just doing my recovery, you know?

“If they want to speak they are allowed to speak, it’s their job to speak. I am used to it now. I am really used to it, it doesn’t 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 teammates want, the rest is just talk. It’s selling stuff I think.”