Paul Pogba returns to action with Monaco

World Cup winner Paul Pogba made his return to action on Saturday, playing one half for Monaco in their 5-2 friendly win over Saint-Priest, the principality club’s first preseason match.

After watching his more experienced teammates from the bench during the first half, which ended with Monaco leading 2-0, Pogba played the full second half in a defensive midfield role, captaining a young team that secured the victory.

Under the watchful eye of club president Dmitry Rybolovlev, Pogba delivered a decent performance, playing without a knee brace. However, he also showed that he is not yet fully fit, and the physical struggles he faced last season are still evident in his performance.

Pogba had not played since May 2nd, when he made his only start of last season in a 2-1 win over Metz, before being substituted after 58 minutes. Brazilian Filipe Luis, Monaco’s new coach, said after the friendly match, which saw 24 players from the squad participate: “He’s following the same training program and undergoing the same training sessions as all the other players.”

Filipe added, “I hope he can reach the same level physically, because when he has the ball at his feet, he’s already a fantastic player. Of course, we demand a lot from our midfielders, and he knows that very well. He’s giving his all and working hard to be in top form and help the team.”