Pogba Emotional After Long-awaited Return, Despite Monaco Defeat
RENNES, France – Paul Pogba expressed a mix of joy and disappointment following his return to competitive football in MonacoS 4-1 defeat to Rennes on Saturday, marking his first appearance in 811 days.the World Cup winner,who came on as a substitute in the 79th minute,was visibly moved by the reception from the crowd and spoke candidly about the arduous journey back to the pitch.
“It and I’m happy for that,” Pogba initially shared with Ligue 1+ microphones, referencing his return to play. While acknowledging the team’s loss, he emphasized his personal relief. “The rest, we’re a little disappointed to have lost. I feel good, there’s been a lot of work. I still need time to get fit and do 90 minutes. But that will come with time. We’re training for it. We’ll try to help the team as much as possible.”
Pogba admitted the transition back felt unusual at first, but praised the team surroundings. “It felt strange at first to get back on the plane with the group.I’m back in the swing of things. We have a very good group. we’re getting back into the good routine.”
The midfielder was notably touched by the applause from the Rennes supporters. “Seeing the public stand up and applaud, I didn’t expect that. A big thank you to the fans who supported me personally,” he said in the mixed zone. Despite his happiness at being back, he reiterated his frustration with the result. “I was really happy on the one hand, but on the other I was disappointed with the result and what we did on the pitch. I don’t like losing, and I was playing in Monaco.”
Pogba’s return comes after a prolonged period sidelined by a doping suspension, an extra-sporting affair, and multiple injuries – including a muscle injury in October and a sprained ankle shortly after. He played a quarter of an hour against Rennes, describing the feeling as “good.”
“The feelings were good, I wanted to bring good energy, not to concede a goal, to have fun, it’s been a long time. I’m relieved to have returned to football, what I love most in the world. There’s still work to do to get back in top shape,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Pogba remained focused on his club form, downplaying immediate aspirations for a return to the French national team. “If I play badly and I don’t perform well in Monaco, we have to forget about the French team. It’s very far away. Today, I only think about Monaco.”
He concluded by emphasizing his resilience throughout the challenging period. “I am a challenger. Football is not over for me…despite everything that happened, the stories outside of football, it was me who suffered the most. You have moments when the devil tries to speak in your head to say that it’s over. But there is a good God, I believe in my qualities. I didn’t do anything, it wasn’t my fault.”
