PAUL POGBA is ‘away with the fairies’ and will need to be babysat in the Manchester United midfield ‘until he’s 35’, according to a fuming Paul Scholes.
The French midfielder, 28, endured another tough day at the office during Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw at Atalanta.
Pogba was hauled off for Nemanja Matic in the second half as Cristiano Ronaldo yet again bailed United out of jail with a last-gasp leveller.
The 2018 World Cup winner was shown a straight red for a horror lunge on Naby Keita during the 5-0 mauling at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool in his last game out before his trip to Bergamo.
And Scholes has questioned Pogba’s maturity – suggesting he needs an experienced pro to hold his hand for the rest of his career.
After the game, Scholes ranted on BT Sport: “[Pogba] needs somebody on him all the time… somebody there that he totally respects, he needs experienced people behind him.
“How old he? 28? He’s a really experienced player. But he’s one of them that will get to 35 and be exactly the same.
“He’ll still be doing the stupid stuff where he’s stud rolling the ball, holding people off showing how strong and skilful he is.
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“The biggest thing with Paul is his concentration. He goes away with the fairies at times.
“You think of the Juventus team he played in, where he was brilliant and was why we signed him.
“The experience around him – [Andrea] Pirlo, [Giorgi] Chiellini, [Leonardo] Bonucci, [Gianluigi] Buffon, an aggressive manager…
“He will need that treatment until he’s 35.”
Scholes’ fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand suggested Ronaldo could be just the person to make sure Pogba keeps his head on straight.
Ferdinand: “I can’t think of anyone else other than Cristiano that would get a hold of Paul and going ‘I’ll be on to you half time.’
“Maybe it’s a generational thing, maybe it’s different now.
“In our changing room these conversations would be going on.”
Earlier, Scholes and Ferdinand revealed they feared Manchester City will thump United with Raphael Varane injured and Harry Maguire enduring a nightmare run of form.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
