Andros Townsend has claimed Premier League fans should learn to love Paul Pogba, after the Manchester United star put in another sensational performance for France.
A mesmerising long ball from the midfielder setup Karim Benzema’s second goal on Wednesday night as France completed the Euro 2020 group phase atop Group F, holding Portugal to a 2-2 draw.
Pogba rarely fails to show-up for his nation, continuing a stunning summer. However, his performances will be leaving those back at Old Trafford with some questions.
The 28-year-old has shown flashes of his world-beating best with United but has never consistently delivered the game-changing ability fans expected after his £100m transfer back in 2016.
Townsend has been blown away by the Frenchman at the Euros, and believes fans of the English top-flight should cut him some slack.
‘For me, having watched the group stages, he’s the player of the tournament,’ Townsend said on ITV.
‘Some of his passes and touches… his pass to Mbappe was one of the best I’ve ever seen. The back-four is compact but somehow he squeezes the ball around to Mbappe.
‘When he plays for United he’s not far behind that but in England we don’t appreciate Pogba. We appreciate those that kick hard and run for 90 minutes and that’s not Pogba.
‘We don’t respect him enough in this country.’
The pin-point pass Townsend alluded to from Pogba to his sensationally talented 22-year-old team-mate, Mbappe, wasn’t the only moment added to his highlight reel this summer.
The United star was also the architect of France’s first goal at the tournament, chipping a beautiful ball over the German defence with the outside of his boot for Theo Hernandez, whose crossed was turned in by Mats Hummels for an own-goal.
Didier Deschamps will be hoping Pogba continues producing magic moments like those as France aim to win back-to-back major tournaments, facing Switzerland in the last-16.
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