Paul Pogba: "AS Monaco believed in me, and I'm very grateful" | OneFootball

Having arrived in the Principality on Saturday, the French international midfielder was presented to the media alongside AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro and his future teammates Eric Dier and Ansu Fati.

He will discover the French top flight in the coming weeks. Trained at Le Havre, Paul Pogba has never played in the top flight, having left Normandy at 16 to join Manchester United. He then moved to Juventus, and so it is with several trophies in hand, including the 2018 World Cup that he arrived in the Principality. The enthusiastic French international was presented to the media this Thursday, alongside the Club’s CEO, Thiago Scuro. 🎙️

Looking at my children, I told myself that I wanted them to see me play on the pitch! I dream of them celebrating one of my goals with a dab (his favorite move), editor's note). That's what pushed me to train, to keep this discipline. Today I am very happy to be at AS Monaco and to return to the job that I love!

His feeling at the time of signing  ✍️

It’s true that I was overwhelmed with emotion at that moment. I must say that it’s very rare to see me cry like that, so I hope you enjoyed it (he smiles)! A lot of images that came to mind, in relation to what I went through. So to come back and sign for AS Monaco, for a club that believed in me, all of that came back to me at the moment of my signing, which meant that I couldn’t hold back. But above all, it was a moment of joy! But I also feel a lot of determination in me, and I think I made the best choice in coming here.

The process has been long since the first video conference where we invited Paul to join us at AS Monaco, before introducing him to the people who would help him come back. We had some very good discussions, and now the time has come to start the process of his return to competition. (...) Our challenge is to bring him towards one of his greatest desires, that of returning to the French national team and participating in the 2026 World Cup. This is something that really touched us during our conversations. He wants to return to the top level, which is very important to us. He is a top athlete, a top player, to whom we want to give all the keys so that he can help us.

Messages of congratulation 📲

I received a lot of messages that really touched me. It made me happy to feel this support from the fans and people in general. Today I feel good mentally and physically, and I saw that here in Monaco there is a very good infrastructure, very good energy and also good people, who will help me get back to my best level. I am a determined person, who wants to come back and who wants to enjoy myself on the pitch again especially, because that is what I miss the most. The objective is therefore to make my return to the highest level while taking the time necessary, and being patient.

The past two years ⏳

My daily life during these two years has been that of a very present dad (smiles)! I would take my kids to school, then I would go to training… then I would pick them up from school (smiles). So I spent a lot of time with my family and training. Whenever I traveled, I would take my fitness coach with me to stay fit and miss as few sessions as possible. Because I always had this positive thought in mind, that I could return to the field at any time. Of course, there were moments of doubt, but I always wanted to look forward and towards the future. And looking at my kids, I told myself that I wanted them to see me play on the field! I dream of them celebrating one of my goals with a dab (his signature move, editor’s note)! That’s what pushed me to train, to maintain this discipline. Today I am very happy to be at AS Monaco and to return to the job I love!

The taste of returning to football 🔙

As I said, there were moments of doubt, when everything was jumbled up in my head. It was sometimes difficult, but my family, and especially my wife, pushed me, telling me not to worry and that I would get back on the pitch. I myself remained focused on the goal of finding a club and getting back into football, and achieving my goal. Today, the first objective has been achieved, by signing with a club, and now, for the rest, I’m coming back with the same mentality and the desire to train hard to come back and get back into shape. I feel like a young man who has just signed his first professional contract, so I’m obviously determined and have a lot of ambition.

What awaits him 🆕

I think the easy part begins, because I’m surrounded by good players in a good structure! Training alone isn’t easy, as you always have to be motivated, no matter how long. Sometimes you don’t feel like it, but despite everything, I’ve always maintained this discipline to be ready when the time comes, when a club calls me. That’s what I did, and that’s what helped me maintain this commitment and believe in what happened a few days ago, signing for AS Monaco.

I'm very determined (smiles)! I definitely want to get back on the pitch, but I can't be in too much of a hurry. Sometimes kids want things right away, but management told me they'd take the time to get me in top shape. I'm here first and foremost to help the team, but I won't be able to do it at 50%!

Paul PogbaOn the need to be patient

The need to be patient 👌

I’m very determined (smiles)! I definitely want to get back on the pitch, but I can’t be in too much of a hurry. Sometimes kids want things right away, but management told me they’d take the time to get me in top shape. I’m here first and foremost to help the team, but I won’t be able to do it at 50%! So I really want to take the time I need to contribute and listen to the Club. I’m really determined once again to get a feel for the pitch and the ball again, but we’ll take the time we need for that.

On playing in Ligue 1 McDonald’s 🏟️

For me, Ligue 1 has always been at a top level, a big league with a lot of talent and great potential. So I’m going to discover this league that I watch. In recent years, Paris Saint-Germain has dominated the league, with some great players moving there. But AS Monaco (in 2017) and Lille (in 2021) others have also shown they can win it. So it’s a very interesting league, home to the best talent, and I’m very happy to be a part of it to try to raise the level even higher. It’s a good challenge for me too, and you’ll see a determined Paul!

About the French national team 🇫🇷

I spoke to Didier Deschamps on the phone, who told me: “It’s fine, you’ve signed for Monaco, you can come back whenever you want” (he’s joking)! I’m joking, of course, even though it’s obviously the wish of every French player to join the national team. But today I’m at the first stage of my comeback, which is to get back in shape and perform well. There are steps to take to achieve that, and you have to earn them.

I'm not vengeful, on the contrary, I'm very grateful for everything that happened, because it helped me grow and see what can happen in life. So I have no revenge to take, but on the contrary I want to do what I love most in the world, play!

Paul PogbaOn his desire to return to the pitch

So it will be up to me to get back on the pitch, perform as I said, and earn my place! Because today is the first step, and it is impossible to get back into the French team without performing well with my club. I want to play with my team again first, have fun, and then we’ll see. But it is certain that returning to the Blues would be a dream and a real bonus for me.

Mental preparation 💪

The training sessions were there to help me stay in good physical shape first and foremost. Then I was able to talk to several people who helped me and advised me to focus only on the present and my physical health, and not on the past or what’s to come. Training alone isn’t easy, but then I continued with a group. Everything will come back with time, so I was really told to focus on the present and not think about anything else, just live in the moment. (…) I’m not seeking revenge; on the contrary, I’m very grateful for everything that happened because it helped me grow and see what can happen in life. So I have no revenge to take, but on the contrary, I want to do what I love most in the world: play!

On his rehabilitation program 🏋️‍♂️

I obviously see the first match of the season is against Le Havre, and it’s a great story given that it’s my formative club. But I don’t want to talk about a return date. AS Monaco has put in place a very specific and individualized program for me. Then, it’s my body, the physical and the mental, which will decide if I’m ready to resume training and competition at a high level, because that’s what’s important. It’s going to take time to get back to this intense level, and when that’s the case, I’ll be back on the pitch.

Talking with former teammates 📞

I’ve spoken with Kylian (Mbappé) obviously, but also with Benjamin Mendy and Geoffrey Kondogbia who were there before at AS Monaco. They told me that the club was great, that life was good, and that the people were lovely here. From the first call I had with Thiago (Scuro) and Carlos (Aviña), I felt a very good energy and a very good project. And that’s what pushed me to come and see the Performance Center, the pitches, the Club’s mentality. That’s what I need today, and once again I’m really happy to be here today!

On Paris Saint-Germain 🥇

I’m a competitor, you know me, I don’t play to lose. Now there are training camps, matches to play. I feel the energy of this squad, which has been going strong for several years and has reached the podium twice in a row. So I want to bring my own unique touch, which might help us win. But to do that, there’s a lot of work to do, because we know the quality of the big French clubs, especially PSG, which is perhaps the best team in Europe today. So it’s a great challenge for the players who have just arrived and for everyone! We came here for this, because we believe in it.

Speaking with Adi Hütter 💬

I had good discussions with the coach, who told me about his system, his playing philosophy and where I could play. I also said that I wanted to work on video, to understand the system and adapt well, because it’s important for me to understand everyone’s movements, in order to feel comfortable very quickly. So we had a really good discussion which was beneficial for both of us.

His impact in the locker room 🤝

Already on a daily basis, in these first days for me at the Club, the goal is to get to know the players, to be there with them. I think I’m now the oldest in the squad, so it’s strange for me (he smiles)! I want to see how they work, go see them in training, because it’s important for me. And over time, I’m going to start talking a little more with each one, even if I already know some players, from having played or simply spoken with them before signing here.

With training, we'll learn to understand each other and master each other's positions. Personally, I've played a bit everywhere, at 6, 8, on the left, 10... so I can adapt! But it will mostly depend on the team, where I can contribute the most and where they need me the most.

I’m already giving little tips, because that’s my nature to be like that. So if they give me this opportunity to give advice, I will be happy to pass it on. But I know that there is already a very good captain that I know with Denis (Zakaria), and also Thilo (Kehrer) or Eric Dier, who have played in big clubs, are among the old guard and can help others.

Regarding his positioning 🎱

That will depend on the coach (he smiles). But more seriously, I’m very happy to have a midfield as strong as AS Monaco has today. It’s good for us, first of all, on a daily basis, to train with quality players who perform well in matches. With training, we’ll learn to understand each other and master each other’s positions. Personally, I’ve played pretty much everywhere: at number 6, number 8, on the left, number 10… so I can adapt! But it will mainly depend on the team, where I can contribute the most and where they need me the most.

We already have a very good team that has been built over the last few years, and especially over the last two years, with the arrival of many players with specific profiles. The next step for us is now to add more mental experience to the squad, which Paul can clearly bring. For the impact he has, both on and off the pitch, for the mindset he has, he can have a very good influence in the dressing room. (...) It is now up to us to allow him to return to the top of his form, to also have a strong impact on the pitch. That is our objective.

About media pressure 📺

Since I was 16, when I left Le Havre, it’s always been like this for me, so it’s a matter of habit. However, it touches me to see so many people today! But as for the pressure, it’s part of our lives as footballers. When you sign a professional team, you sign up for all that: the criticism after bad matches, the praise after big matches, etc. I don’t have any pressure to put on myself, because where I come from, the pressure was to know if I would still have the opportunity to play football. So there’s no pressure for me; I’m at a very good club with very good players and good energy, so I’m just grateful.