Search icon

Football

30th Dec 2018

Louis Saha says Paul Pogba has more ability than Scholes

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has claimed that Paul Pogba has more ability than Paul Scholes had during his time at Old Trafford

Reuben Pinder

Paul Pogba is back to his best.

Ever since José Mourinho was relieved of his duties as Manchester United manager, several Manchester United players have significantly improved on the pitch.

Free from constant negative criticism and with the shackles off, they are free to express themselves under new boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and they’re absolutely loving it.

United’s win against Bournemouth this afternoon was their third game in a row in which they’d scored at least three goals, and Paul Pogba was once again the standout player, scoring a brace.

His first was expertly finished after a strong run into the box and his second was a header finished with bravery and with class.

Former United striker Louis Saha was on punditry duty for Sky Sports after the game and he waxed lyrical about Pogba’s performance before claiming that Pogba has more ability than United legend Paul Scholes had during his playing days.

“I understand that Paul Scholes was a genius,” Saha told Sky Sports before United’s match against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

“He had a brain, vision, the consistency of his passing was just brilliant. But frankly, he wouldn’t have a go at me for saying physically he was nowhere near.

“He was not fast or very strong, couldn’t really dribble past players and all that, but he was consistent. Paul Pogba has everything. He’s got the height, he’s got the skill, he can score, he can pass as well, he can defend as well.

“Pogba has got that quality to actually be shining on every field. That’s what he did at the World Cup.”

Saha also suggested that Mourinho, who had a toxic relationship with Pogba, was unable to get the best out him, adding: “You have to have the players with you as well, but we mentioned the actual body language sometimes was not good.

“And he took up positions where he is going too far to protect his defenders and it’s a bad sign because he was trying to recover the ball way too deep and he should be pressing high and then you have a player like Pogba dominating because he is able to suck in the opposition and give the ball and freedom to Martial and all those players.

“I couldn’t see this and I was really surprised because the quality of Pogba is to actually be able to suck the opposition in, maybe dribble the ball where nobody can be able to touch him, but he wasn’t doing it.”