The former Manchester United manager has doubts over the midfielder.
Former Everton, Sunderland and Manchester United manager David Moyes is unsure whether Paul Pogba will develop into a “special player” that consistently makes a difference for Manchester United.
In an interview with ESPN, Moyes doubted if the French midfielder will have the same amount of influence and impact at Old Trafford than the likes of Eric Cantona and Ryan Giggs had.
“I think he’s a top player, I don’t know if he’s a player who completely makes a difference for Manchester United. I think that over the years Manchester United have had players like Cantona, even Ryan Giggs, people who are special players. I don’t know if Pogba’s that,” he said.
Moyes adds: “I think he’s a good player, I think he’ll add to Manchester United, but will he make the difference? Is he someone who will score the goal at really important stages in games or make the key pass? I’m not sure about that. But I do think that the machine that Manchester United are now, the size, the players they’ve got, you know they’ve got a massive stature to their team, I think Pogba adds to that. And I do think he’s a good player, but I’m not quite sure if he’ll make the difference in key games.”
During the same interview, Moyes also spoke about Wayne Rooney’s return to Everton and the impact that he expects Romelu Lukaku to have at Old Trafford, but he also spoke candidly about Marouane Fellaini.
During his ill-fated spell as United manager, Moyes signed the Belgian from Everton for £27.5m but Fellaini still hasn’t won over a large section of United fans. This being said, Mourinho remains a fan.
“Bringing Marouane Fellaini was part of what I hoped he would come to United and play in different games. He was never someone who was going to play in all the games at United. He was someone that was there, his size is a problem to the opposition, it’s also something which helps you, Manchester United you’ve seen many times now have used him a more advanced role. I used to get criticism at Everton because we played him there, he’s got brilliant chest control, taking it down with his chest, he’s as good as anyone in the world actually and he’s a good footballer, but he was never somebody who was going to come and play every single game,” he said.
In recent weeks, Mourinho has dismissed various reports that were linking the Belgian with a move away from Old Trafford. “It is easier for Galatasaray to get me than Marouane. Marouane forget it. He’s very important for me,” he said.
Moyes reiterated his belief that Fellaini is a valued player in terms of United’s current tactical approach. However, the quote that Fellaini is “a decent passer without being a great passer” should provide his detractors with plenty of criticism.
“As you rightly said, if you look at the games that he played under Louis van Gaal and now under Jose Mourinho, he’s vital. He’s a modern day footballer, he covers a lot of ground, he’s a decent passer without being a great passer, he can get you some goals, he helps you out in both boxes with his stature and he was something which we didn’t have at Manchester United and he was a player who was brought in to add to the squad,” said Moyes.
