Despite returning to Old Trafford as a World Cup winner, Paul Pogba 'needs to use his brain a little bit more to become a top footballer', insists Paul Scholes.
The former United midfielder has been a long-standing critic of the Frenchman and has continued his cutting assessments ahead of the new season, suggesting he only plays well 'one in every three or four games'.
'Paul needs to find consistency, I think,' Scholes told beIN Sport. 'You look at his game… he can be brilliant one week, not so good the next.
'He seems to be a player that you get a performance out of one in every three or four games. If you're going to win leagues, it's not enough. It's just not enough.'
Pogba endured a tough maiden campaign last season having rejoined United from Juventus in a world record deal.
Coming in and out of the side, the 25-year-old never found the consistency which he showed so impressively in Turin.
For Scholes, consistency in personnel this season could help bring out consistency in Pogba.
'He needs to become that commanding player he was at Juventus,' Scholes continued. 'He was part of a set structure at Juventus; he knew every week what position he was going to play, who he was going to play with.
'I don't think that helps him at United because I'll be amazed if the same team has been named twice in a row and the same formation, there doesn't seem to be a set way of where it's going and that could possibly work against him.'
Pogba earned plenty of plaudits at the World Cup this summer as Didier Deschamps' side emerged victorious inside the Luzhniki Stadium against Croatia.
Along with Kylian Mbappe and Raphael Varane, Pogba was superb in dictating the play and showed off his physicality as an enforcer alongside N'Golo Kante, attributes Scholes did acknowledge.
'There's no doubt the lad has real quality, he's shown it at this World Cup,' he said.
'He can play, he's such a strong lad - such a strong player - such a fit lad, he can run, great technique as well, great ability.
'But he needs to use his brain a little bit more to become a top footballer.'
United boss Jose Mourinho also failed to indulge Pogba's recent success when asked about his midfielder at their pre-season training base in Los Angeles.
Zambia5889372
88
Pogba needs to be helped by his work mates to get the best out of him. The working environment must also be conducive for the player, motivation from management is also important, they both need good results,
Chima92
75
These Utd past players be talking Stupidly abt Pogba n the rest players like they r soo blind they cant see the real cause of their lack of performance on Club level. was Pogba not consistent in Juv n the WC 2014 n 2018? Why u guys make me annoyed with ill comments abt Pogba? Pogba needs a gud manager 4 him to be at his best not Quacks like Mourinho! Pls leave Pogba alone! if u want him to be Consistent in United Sack Mourinho n bring in an offesive manager!
wiuklostz
43
There's nothing really wrong with what Paul Scholes has said here. Yes maybe he could have put it differently. I believe it was Gary Neville who said that the difference with Pogba for France, as opposed to Man Utd is Ngolo Kante, and that's the real. Football say's: "With Discipline Comes Freedom" When Pogba applies himself for either club or country with discipline you see the authenticity of Paul Pogba, you see Football!!! Paul Scholes is correct, Pogba is a great athlete, who loves to use his athleticism and physicality, but for Man Utd it tends to be mostly with the ball than without, and this is why Scholes says Pogba should use his brain a little more, i.e; if Pogba doesn't want to work back when play breaks down, then work from behind the ball with his back to his goal, and eyes on his opponents goal consistently!! To do this requires discipline, and discipline demands full utilisation of brain power. Football Lives!!! @FeedersFDP
9268c
34
Pogba is a great player and he will always be a great player. It's just that he needs more time to develop more to become more than just a great player but I know he will always be a great midfielder and will soon become a legend
wiuklostz
11
I think paul pogba is brilliant enough..
Football is Continuity!!! Pogba must continue to silence his critic's because he must understand that they will continue to be there, and the best way to do that is to perform football consistently, continually improving on the performance before whilst adding what football loves most to every performance: Goals!! And for Pogba having so much authentic ability he can add goals of the highest calibre because he has both feet, amazing quality in the air, can drive, use finesse, out jump, and out reach his opponents, he has pace, and strength. When you put all that together you could argue we're describing Ronaldo, but we're not, Ronaldo doesn't have all these attributes, but what Ronaldo always produces is Goals, of varying types and quality, and Pogba can do the same. Pogba has dead ball skills, he has great feet and trick capacity, particularly so for a big guy, and Paul Scholes never said Pogba has no brain, he said just use it a little bit more, and there's nothing wrong with that, we can all do with heeding that from time to time. Football Lives!!! @FeedersFDP