As the UEFA Champions League returns with matchday four action, Paul Pogba’s return to Juventus in Manchester United colours will grab most eyeballs.
The 25-year-old midfielder may already have amassed a couple of honours at The Theatre of Dreams, besides the small matter of winning the World Cup in French colours earlier this year. Yet the player many consider has the potential to be the best in his position is having a taciturn season.
In the midst of a wrangle with his manager Jose Mourinho since June, Pogba’s exceptional ability condensed in the face of a major blip in form – coinciding with the Red Devils’ worst start to a season. However, an emergency reset of mentality has seen the Frenchman take the situation by the collar and haul his side back into good form with vital displays of grit, composure and versatility in midfield.
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If Manchester United were a team who reared Pogba’s formative years, then the Old Lady was a club that honed the Frenchman’s outrageous ability. This is home away from home after all for one of the world’s most prodigious talents.
Juventus maybe a side which is all-conquering right now with star names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Leonardo Bonucci in the squad. However, Pogba still remains a firm favourite among the Juventus faithful.
In the midst of a mini-revival of sorts under the Portuguese manager, Pogba must take the reins of Manchester United and ensure a solid rendition of their true potential and get a better result that what United at Old Trafford a fortnight ago. He has the recipe for success on what is expected to be a testy night at Juventus Stadium for a team that has supposedly fallen hard from grace.
Champions are born in choppy waters and not genteel ones and Pogba will be expected to man the rafters and stake his claim to champion-hood, where the initial dice rolled for him.
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