Bruno Fernandes is relishing the prospect of playing alongside Paul Pogba for Manchester United, when football returns.
The Portuguese Magnifico says that, although the 2019/20 campaign has been tough for Pogba, the France World Cup winner will bounce back once it is safe for the sport to resume.
That could still be some time away from now but at least Fernandes is excited about playing with Pogba, telling the official Man Utd website: “A lot. A lot. I think we have a lot of good players in the midfield.
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“Obviously Paul is injured from a long time [ago], and all we know is he has a lot of qualities.
“We can say in football that people normally forget what you do good when you have a mistake. You can do good for 34 games, and one game you do bad and everyone will remember that.
“Paul is coming from a bad moment, because of the situation. When he played also, the club and the team was not good, because the expectations are high for Paul, because Paul is a top player and Manchester United pay a lot for him, and expectations are a lot for him.
“It’s normal when you are in that situation you don’t play like a superstar, because everyone expects from Paul like they expect from Ronaldo at Juventus or Messi at Barcelona. Everyone expects this from Paul in Manchester, because they know he has the qualities for this. Also this is confidence in Paul. The team, we have a lot of confidence in Paul.”
Considering how Fernandes arrived in January and instantly got the best out of his new team-mates, conjuring three goals and four assists in the process, I do want to see Pogba back on the pitch in a United shirt. Just to see how well the Frenchman plays with our new Portuguese star.
It is easy forget just how good Pogba can be because we haven’t see the level of consistency needed for a top player at this level. But maybe with Fernandes, the pair in the same midfield could become an incredible force.
Fernandes played against Pogba in Italy while at Udinese.
“I know Paul from Juve, because I played against him in Italy. And believe me, it’s really hard to play against Paul,” Fernandes adds.
“Because I play in midfield. I mark him. We play in the same line, so it’s really difficult to play against Paul, because he has power, he has technique.
“It’s difficult to find a player like Paul: big, strong and technical. It’s difficult to find a player like this, and he has a lot of qualities. I hope he comes [back] soon.”
Football has been suspended over the coronavirus pandemic and Fernandes expects Pogba to be given a warm welcome when he does make his return.
“He started training with us in the week before we stopped, so I think when he comes back he will start to play, and be in the team.
“More than expectations, I’m confident what Paul can give to us, to the team. I think he has a lot to give, he has a lot of quality, and I think with the positive energy in the club – because we won a lot of games and we are in a good moment – everyone, the supporters and everything, will be more patient with Paul maybe.
“I feel sometimes when the things go wrong, the patience is less, you know? It’s normal, because the fans want to win. Football is about winning; it’s not about playing.
“But the confidence now in the team is bigger. So I think Paul, when he comes back, he will feel this and will give more for the next months and the next games.”
