As always home is always the best. Paul Pogba spent several years in Manchester United’s academy before a lack of first team football saw him leave for Juventus. He went straight in to their starting XI and won four Serie A titles in four seasons there, as well as playing in the Champions League final.
However, Pogba chose to leave Juve to United, despite us only competing in the Europa League, because he had unfinished business in Manchester.
Ahead of the group stage draw, Pogba imagined playing against Juve again, and is excited to return to Turin to face his former club.
“Do I look sad? I’m happy to wear this shirt. I’m really happy I came back. It’s a big club. When you play in a big club there’s always talk. On the pitch, always happy, always with a smile.”
Paul Pogba states how happy he is to be at Manchester United. 🇾🇪💪🏼 #mufc pic.twitter.com/DHsibZqMlw
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) November 6, 2018
I had spoken to my brother and said ‘can you imagine if we’re drawn in the same group as Juventus’. That’s the way it’s panned out and it’s really special. It’s where I developed as a player, so I have huge respect for the club. I’m delighted to be going back and playing there. I see it as being my stadium. I know I’m at home when I’m at Old Trafford, but I also feel very much at home when I return to Juve.
When you play alongside the likes of Pirlo, you can only get better. We had a great team. A strong team. We reached the final and we faced Barcelona. They were the best team in the world. They won it and they deserved it. Two years later, when Juventus reached their next final, I had already left for Manchester.
I felt like I was missing something. I wanted to be in the starting XI at my first club, wear this jersey, and be a part of the team. I left Juventus even though they were in the Champions League and Manchester United we weren’t. We did play in the Europa League though which was a trophy I had never won. To win it, and be lucky enough to score in the final, was beautiful. Being named player of the competition was the cherry on top.
France certainly weren’t favourites to win the World Cup in the summer but that didn’t change the fact Pogba left Russia with a winners medal. He claims the Champions League is just as unpredictable and that he is desperate to win it.
You can’t predict the Champions League. It’s like the World Cup, anything can happen. I know all about the ground and the atmosphere, but we are coming to play a Champions League game, not visit the stadium. It’s a huge match. It will be a very emotional one for me. All players want to win this title. It’s very much in my mind. My goal is to bring it home.
We are happy to have you back Labile. Arent you?