“I Should Have Done More…” Paul Pogba Gets Honest About Man Utd, Pressure & His Family

0:00Because, you know, when brothers argue and stuff like that, the first person that is touched is the parents, you know. So it was difficult for my mother. Today's guest is one of the most talked about footballers of his generation. A World Cup winner, a player with unbelievable talent and someone who's carried so much expectation on their shoulders. I play on the left, play on the right. I play as a striker. I play as a midfielder. I play as a sixth. If I compare it to the other players like Kevin De Bruyne. or Modric, they only play in the same position. But for all the noise around him, there's a version of Paul Pogba that people rarely hear from.

0:38Like, Gwyneth Solis was coming at you. I didn't know who he was and I heard that he was a legend. No, you said to me, I'm asking you, you said to me, who is he? I didn't even know who he was, what did he do? You didn't even know he played football. It's not, it wasn't even bad. And today, I want to understand the man behind the footballer. But this is me and I will never change you. This is who I am. We'll discuss the successes, why things didn't work out and how pressure shapes you as a person. Be prepared to challenge your preconceptions because today, you'll likely see Paul Pogba in a different way.

1:15Hey! Knock, knock. Mr Pogba. My man. How you doing, man? Yeah, good. How to see you? You good? I see you too. How's things? All good. You're looking sharp as usual. Stop it. Looking good, man. How you doing? Yeah, it's all good, man. Family's good? That's the most important. They're all good. Yes. How many of you have? You've got three kids now, right? Three. Any footballers yet? Any little mini Pogba's? Starting. Yeah? Starting, yeah. Starting the... Smashing their house up? Yeah. They have to be. They have to. They have to smash it. That's a good sign. No, no. That's what I said to my wife. You have to let them do what they want to do.

1:50Exactly. Smash their house up. That's when they get in touch with the ball. Isn't it? It's out there. I want to take it back to when we first met, yeah? Do you remember when we first met, where he was? It was in Carrington. Yeah? Yeah, it was in Carrington. I was in the physio room, getting strappings on my ankle, and you came in, little, young, skinny. Yeah, skinny. Picky hair. Of course. Yeah, but the guys, I remember, when I saw you, I could see the charisma already. but I didn't know anything about you. When you left the room, I said, who's this kid, man? Because they always bring young kids in and I said, who's this kid walking around but they had a lot of people with you so I knew you were serious.

2:32They said, no, this guy is like a wonder kid. This guy is the one. That's what they did. Yeah, from France, this is the best young kid. I said, oh, okay, let me see. And then from there, I always kind of like kept an eye on you. I'll come watch you guys train because you guys are good players in your team. Yes, yeah, yeah. Good generation. But this generation and you had like Will Keane, Michael Keane, Tunnicliffe. Tunis, Rav. Rav. Jesse. Jesse Lingard, yeah, yeah. You had a good team, man. Joshua Keane. And you obviously won the FA Youth Cup. Yeah. What comes to mind when you think about that time in your life?

3:08It was the best time. You know, I couldn't, first I started, I couldn't even speak English. But the group was so talented and they were all so funny. And we just, when I came in, I was really comfortable. all the coaches were top. I really liked the coaches. Paul McGuinness. Paul and Jim. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So they were very good. What were they like with you? Because obviously a new kid coming in, was it just like, go and play your football? At the start, you know, when I come from France, you know, I like to dribble and everything. I like the little skills, but they were like, passing, run, passing, run.

3:44And I was like, pass where? You know, I can't always pass. When you understand what they mean, at the right time when you pass and run, people cannot stop you. Was that like passing and then run on? And run and attack and go and score goals. That's where I learned also. In the game, to win a game, you have to score goals. So get there, box to box, you're a midfielder. Box to box, go, pass, run, don't stop. It's mad because when I was watching you as a kid, I used to sit there. Yaya Toure wasn't doing what he was doing. But when I look back now, it was a mix of like Yaya Toure. Patrick Vieira at 16 years old, 17 years old.

4:25I was watching videos of like Stevie J, Steven Gerrard, Lampard, Yaya Toure, Abu Dhabi, Patrick Vieira obviously, Iniesta and even back then Modric and I tried to create something new because I know I'm tall, but I always like to dribble and abilities, you know, tackers, abilities with the ball. And I always like the skills, the nutmeg and everything. But when you get to the big level, you have to make it an assist. You have to score goals. So I start learning this also in England. When you talk about skills and your face lights up, another guy who is renowned for all of these skills,

5:16You want me to tell you a story? First weeks, first week, like first two, three weeks, I arrived and one of my first training and I could see he was the main guy. He was the boss. He was the boss. And you know, like after a few weeks, you know, you start getting more, you know, like they want you to tackle. They want you to play strong. you know english football and in training i gave him one good you know take the ball from him and he gets upset and he kicked me like after that he kicked me and i couldn't speak english okay

6:02and then after again i push him and then we start arguing me and him push i said okay let's see let's go in the changing room. Yeah, yeah, no problem. If you're quoting, you know, I start speaking French. I'm like, yeah, I'm ready. You know, where are you from? This is the respect. And after that, we go in the changing room. So I'm like a bit nervous, you know. It's kind of, it might be my first fight of the club. So I'm there, I'm waiting. What's going to happen? And then you come to me. We do this. And since that day, it's my guy. Who's that? I promise you. Wow. You could tell you. We argue and everything first, first few weeks.

6:42And then since then, like we were like very close. Respect. Yeah, respect, you know, in the changing room. And then Ralph, he was doing things. I was like, I just want to give him the vote, you know, I enjoy playing with this guy. He was so talented. I remember when I asked you about him years ago and I said to you, like, what was I remember you just got this and we are doing things nobody could do. I told you Neymar, Ronaldinho things. He was taking the ball. He wasn't passing the ball. But he wasn't losing the ball. He could run with the ball and play those one-twos. He was already playing like a pro in under-18.

7:23He was like ahead of us. Why didn't he go on to do what you've done in your career? It's tough to say. I would probably say his area where he's from he had his friend and he was young also so sometimes you had some games and he wasn't like you had a game and he wasn't there he wasn't coming and you say where is Brad he had the issue I think the area where he grew up didn't really help and probably now he understands when you talk about it I think that was that would make the difference between me and him in the career. It should have been way more, I think. Just fast forward to obviously then you developing as a young player.

8:13We're all hearing about you, Scoles and Kingsley. Everybody's hearing about Paul Pogba. What was it like you coming into the first team change role at Manchester United and being around those guys? It was like, wow, you know, like you close. You close now to the first team. and I came as a young kid who wants to learn. So I was watching Scalzi also play and try to understand what I have to do on the pitch to be there, to be a first 11, you know? And I was watching him. He was dominating, taking the ball, long balls there, shooting from far. He was a proper box-to-box player, watching Giggs, the discipline that he had, because I think he was like 37 already, when i came um and he was already it was a i couldn't understand what is pro means you know you i could see you always in training with in the physio room and then after in the pool you remember in the pool in your corner on your phone like that always like this doing recovery and stuff i was like okay so this is what i have to do to become a professional a top professional player and I've learned.

9:29I mean, you can only learn from the best. To become the best, you can only learn from the best. And I put this mode, learning, learning mode. And when I came to training, I was a bit shy the first training. I was going to say, did this environment sometimes, it could be scary, no? It was, it was. But, you know, I really, I wanted to be a football player and professional football player. I'm at Manchester United. There's no way back, you know? I'm there. And that's my dream. So I will do everything. to be with you guys and to be on the team and play and the first training like like i say i was a bit shy cleverly was playing and i was like this is fast this is fast the training was intense i was like whoa and i need to to level up and after a few weeks you know trying coming training with you guys and i start to understand i don't know if you remember that day uh for the first weeks i was getting kicked and smashing me out of respect i don't want to kick the skulls and the gigzi and the waza i was like those are the you know i remember you said put her i was always saying that and one day patrice come to me and he said continue continue you become the bitch of the the changing room sorry about the word but that's what he said and then i understood i said but can i kick them you know i don't want to you know injure somebody say matt he's first here man he's out there you know this is this is the professional if you you're scared to hurt to hurt somebody just go back with the under 18s okay next day coming training i said okay I gave body to Berber he goes on the floor and then I go back you know I'm like yes okay that's what we want okay and then we left and I told Berber I said Berber let's go to the gym ah and that day and you know Berber it is with the young guys you know no respect you don't like that it's like this kid this kid is crazy but then since then since he was good actually he was talking to me and you know Berber wasn't talking that much He would only like you if he talked to you.

11:45Yes. You know he likes you. So, you know, I was with Pat, I was with you. And then after that, I started getting better, I felt more comfortable having my first bench, you know, being there with you guys. And I don't know if you remember the first day I've been called up, me and Joshua King. You won't remember. We had a meeting at Carrington, and then from Carrington we'd go with the bus to Old Trafford, and then we'd go to the hotel. But me, I didn't know. So I went first way to Old Trafford. And I was late for my first call-up with the first team. And then I was sweating. I was sweating, me and Joshua.

12:30And Joshua wanted to kill me because it was my fault. And then I arrived there. I was, you see, how tall I am. I was very tiny when I came in. I said, yep, fine, fine. You guys are right, fine. Fucking hell, Pox. That was the gaffer. Fucking hell. The kid's first day. Fucking late. I was like, oh man, if I come on, I better play good. Yeah, yeah, of course. But that was my first time. So these memories, again, like your face is lighting up, thinking and remembering all these things. And then obviously it comes the moment when you decide to leave. You know, I've been there for a few months with the first team.

13:09and I think I could have played. With the luck that I had, there were injury players. Scorsese went to retirement and then after when he came back, it was the same year. And the manager was like the second manager. No, Mike. Carlos Kiros. Rene? Rene. Rene. It was Rene. He was always coming to me and talking like, you're getting close, you're going to play and everything. And I didn't play until that day, like I said before, against Blackburn. That killed me. Clebs was injured. Scolze wasn't there. And he had no midfielders left. So I'm like, I'm not going to stop. It's fine. And he put Park and Rafa in midfield.

14:02And I remember I went to warm up first off. i went to warm up so i go first off i go warm up second half i warm up i warm up for like 70 minutes i didn't come on i was like no and like clubs were already they were already talking because i was i was gonna finish my contract and i said this day yeah i think i think i was like yeah i might i might leave you know i might leave if they don't believe in me that i can play in this team, maybe I'll go somewhere else and it will work. Do you remember, just before you was leaving, I think it might be in your last one or two days, I saw you in the corridor and I said to you, Paul, where are you going?

14:45What are you doing, man? And he was like, I could see he was emotional. And at that point, was it a little bit like, I don't know if I've made the right decision? Yeah, of course. Was it? Man, you know how much I love United. I wanted to play with you guys so bad, like to have the proper games. I had like, I think, seven games when I came on. But that was all after, you know, when they knew that I was a bit mad and I said that I would leave and I spoke with the manager. And I don't know, you might not remember this, but even for one week, I had to train by myself because they knew that I would leave.

15:23So they made me train with the under 18. I already played with the reserve and with you guys, but they made me train with the under-18. And then after they told me, I'll just go to the gym. And I was like, okay, can I train? They said no, tomorrow, whatever. So for one week, I just took a ball, put some pose, stuff like that, and I was doing my drills, passing, shooting by myself. And then I was like, no, for sure I'm going to go. Did you ever look back and think, oh, you know, it might have been a mistake or was you always comfortable at the end? You always think a little bit. and you say, maybe I've been more patient, I would play, but maybe I wouldn't have the career that I have.

16:08You know, when you think back, if, if. But yeah, definitely I really wanted to play for the first team. With that team, with that generation. With that generation. But then you walk into Juventus and the characters, we were talking before we come on, but the characters, the personalities, the Chiellinis, the Perlos, these types of, the Vannucci, Buffon, all these big, massive characters walking into that change room. Was that easy or was that...? But your change room was crazy. Yeah? Yeah. Come on, you just... You were like, just before I leave, I think you were finally... You played against Barcelona.

16:48Remember you played against Barcelona at Wembley? Yeah, yeah, we got beat, man. We got beat. We got slapped. I was there, but this game was just before I leave. And I was like, this team is a crazy team. This team was crazy. It was Man United, basically. And going there, the Juventus just won the league. And secretly, before I go there, before I sign, I meet Antonio Conte. Yeah. I met Antonio Conte and the way he talked to me, it was crazy. He put all the players, all the teams. He said, you play midfield, right? He put me in the midfield after the PLO, Asamoah, Vidal, Marquis, etc. And he said, you think you can play here?

17:46I'm like, yeah. Yeah, I can play. he said okay that's it went sign as i like send it give me the fire you know i had the fire again you know like to show to prove him that i can play in this team and then i start going training on the bench i was in the stand i was looking and learning and this is different different football and I was like okay and he gave me so he we played Chelsea in Champions League when Oscar go yeah so I was there and I was in the stand and after that that game he comes to me he says are you ready to play I said yeah that was for my first game as a starter at Juventus we play I think we won but not mistaken but yeah I had a good game.

18:44I had an okay game. You know, not too crazy. But then since I came on and I started playing and I scored goals. You know, like this Napoli goal, when I came on and I scored the volley on the left, you know, like this changed everything. That goal changed everything. Score against Napoli, we win 2-0. That changed everything. And then the coach started putting me more. But he was putting me more as a six at the start. He was like a defensive midfielder. and in training one day, he put me as a three, like Vidal, Marchesio, like just a bit, like as an eight. And we had a friendly game and I scored like a hat-trick this game.

19:21And then since this game, he put me there. You know, like, yeah, attack. You moved to Juventus when you felt you wasn't getting the opportunities and you were young, still unproven to a certain extent. Kobe Meynou, you know, Manchester United, a little bit different because he's played in national football. he's a bit more of a known product but what would your advice be for someone like him? You've been there in a similar type of situation, what would your advice be to someone like Kobi? He played and he's such a talented kid, he's still young.

19:59It's difficult, it's really difficult. It's the way how he feels, if he feels that, if he's good with the manager, if the manager really trusts him. Because he's going to have all the clubs behind him, this is for sure. But I don't know about his contract. Because if he will be free agent, it will be a different story, I think. But, you know, a kid like this, you know, that thinks that he can play and other people think that he can play. His manager is pushing him, telling him, you can play in this team while you don't play. that also put this in this kid and he's like, oh yeah, I should leave.

20:38Maybe it's not the right decision and it's really hard for me to say he should leave when he's so loved by the people at United. He's such a great player, a big potential and he can do a great career at Manchester United also. I don't know, but I just wish him the best. I don't know. Whatever decision he's going to take, I just want to see this kid play because it's enjoyable to see him play. Talent, talent. Talking about talent, you walk into Juventus, Perla. Perla was playing like that. Just sitting there, he was playing like this. It was so class. Perla was, Perla was just chill. You take the ball on both feet, he's like composure.

21:31Scholes, what comparison to Scholes? Scholes was a more aggressive player. You can see Scholes was getting too many red counts. Too many red counts, he was so aggressive but he had the proper English football. But Pierlo, he was chill. You wouldn't see Pierlo go and tackle. Never. Never. So that's, I would say the difference is like, Piolo is more, it was more like a Rolls Royce, you know, and Scolese was like more Lamborghini. Let's say it like that. But both class. Yes. You can only learn from those guys. What did his game give your game that made you be able to perform at the level you did at Juventus?

22:19because you went to another level, a much higher level than what I saw at my United. Was Pirlo's role in that important, do you think? Yes. Yes, definitely. It was, you know, I was so comfortable in this team and all the players knew exactly what they had to do. And if I make a mistake, Pirlo, Chiellini, they would tell me, yep, be there. You know how many times Pirlo tell me, Paul, don't come close. Don't come there. I'm there. This is my zone. Just stay there. The ball will arrive. Don't worry. You know? So I'm like, okay. So I learned the positioning also. When to make the runs. You know when you make a run with those guys?

23:03It's coming. The balls arrive there. You know? What a feeling. And so it makes it so easy for me also. Playing with those guys and understand when to go fast, when to go fast. He was controlling the game. And those players, when they don't play, you feel the difference directly in the team when they're not there. So he definitely taught me how to control the game. And also about mistakes. You know, Pirlo sometimes was doing mistakes, and it was really rare. But when he was doing it, it feels like he didn't even do it, the mistake. Once we play a game, we pass him the ball, we get dressed, he loses the ball, they almost score.

23:47again we pass him the ball he lose the ball again they almost go again give me the ball take the ball and you know when you chop chop like this pass I said yes I was like this on the pitch I was like this because mistakes how many players would do that no no hide hiding three mistakes almost a goal they don't want exactly and he was like I'm the boss here don't worry, just give me the ball. I've learned that also from him. Which midfielder do you play with that do you think was your best partners? That I play with? I don't like to say which one was the best, you know, because I've enjoyed playing with Vidal, Marquezio and Pirlo.

24:35I've enjoyed playing with Blaise Matuidi and N 'Golo Kante, which was different because they're different for me.

24:44They all run. They run everywhere. They were defending. They defend for me. He was like this. I just get the ball and I attack. Conte was like, no, Paul, it's okay. I'll go. It's okay. Blaise was running. I'm like, okay. I finished the game. I'm not even tired. This was your best. I love it. I love it. They were good with the balls. They're runners. They cover you. it's like you have one player more in the team. So I really enjoyed that also. I enjoyed playing also with Matic in United quality. He's a tall guy. He was aggressive, good with the ball, also good passing. I loved playing with Bruno.

25:29And I don't think at this time it was, you know, I came from injury. The team was winning. And we didn't, you know, we changed the formation. He was playing as a, he was behind the strikers. He was 10. And Fred was playing and Scott was playing also a little bit. We didn't find the perfect match, I think. You know, but playing like with Bruno also, yeah, killing. But you know what? I saw your, when you played in the World Cup, I won some trophies, man, but I didn't win the World Cup. Like, what is that? What's that like, man? What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about winning the World Cup?

26:11A dream come true. I remember when I was a kid and watching the videos of the World Cup, I had the cassette. I was always watching it and that was my dream. And I was watching it with my dad. And when I won the World Cup, my dad passed away like a year before. So for me, winning this, it was winning for my dad also. I remember all the memories that I had when I was a kid, watching those videos with him. It's the best. I didn't get another feeling than winning the World Cup. I don't think it's a better feeling than winning the World Cup. It's mad. I dreamed about winning the World Cup. I never got close to it.

26:53But why was the environment so good there? What was it about it that unlocked the best version of Paul Pogba? Because I think that's one of the best versions of you I saw when you won the World Cup, your role in that team. All the people trusted me. And I think this is important. It's a big point because when you feel comfortable, you feel loved by the coach, by the staff, by the players. They know what you can bring and everything and you don't think about anything else. the french media as well i for the world cup you know because i never really talked i stopped talking for like four years to the media and for the world cup i start talking again you know did you know they told me you need to talk with the video get them on side yes yeah and i start doing this and then you feel better but you always feel better when you win but still it was even the the french major really changed changed during this world cup because probably they saw like the video of me talking you know and they say like oh cool you know the hairstyle and everything but he's a he looks like a leader looks like someone that wants to win that wants to put the team you know and put all the team together and be like let's go guys this is our work of you know they start seeing this more in the work of but i always had that i think in me but i never you know i would you never never yes i never expressed it like that i didn't feel comfortable to express it like that when you have big players like Frank Ribery, Benzema, etc.

28:30Abidal, Evra. Evra was there already before. He was the leader. He was the one doing this. And then when he left, I think I took the… Sometimes it's like timing, isn't it though? Like you say, you've got big players around you and I've always known this and always said this about you're very respectful of the players before. And sometimes it's just about having that time. Did the age of chumps come to you at any point and say listen that pool this is now your time to leave your team yes they did we had a meeting before the world cup with the blaze but so blaze matridi girou yoris varan and deshan and they said like basically you're the leaders of the team and i was in the middle i was like 25 so i was in the middle with the young with the young guys and the all the guys and say, you are the one that, you are the leaders of the team and everything.

29:23And many times, Bless used to tell me, okay, go speak with them, speak with them, tell them that, you know, they will listen to you. And that's what helped me to express myself more. So yeah, it did help a lot. It's crazy because I saw something on Didier Deschamps. He singled out Mbappe around this time. You made him better. This is the way I see it with Kylian Mbappe and you. I don't think I've seen a better version of Paul Pogba without Mbappe. And I don't think I've seen a better version of Mbappe without you.

30:00Why is that? I don't know. We understand each other. I understand his runs and everything. And he's so fast. I can miss the ball and he will catch it. I kick the ball and he runs. His runs are unbelievable. He's quick, he's technical and I love to play with those kind of players. And when we find this, when we click, we get the ball, the national team, we just get the ball. I get the ball, he knows that in my first touch, and I know where he is and I know what kind of run he's going to make, so I try to find him like that. With the national team, we play counter-attack most of the time. And when we play like this, he's staying up front.

30:49And when we get the ball, I like to get the ball directly. And if they come and press, I try to come out and I just play him. And then we go, we all move. So it's always easy to play with those kind of players, to be honest. Has he got more levels, do you think? Is there more to come from him? Ballon d 'Or and stuff like this? Ballon d 'Or, I think, is timing. You know, I really think it's timing. I think he deserved Ballon d 'Or even before. He's been the best for me in the season. In all the seasons, he's been the best player already. But he's just timing, I think. Now he's scored more goals than before.

31:29And now he's been in Madrid. He finds his place.

31:36He scored more goals than Cristiano Ronaldo. He scored more goals than Ronaldo online. When you do this. In your first season. In the first season. I remember. So, he can only go more. He can only go higher. And I'm not surprised. Yeah, I'm not surprised. You know what? It's crazy. When you won the World Cup, a lot of people forget you as a main item. them. And I think you said something interesting. When you feel loved universally by everyone and given the responsibility within the team, that's when you can play at your best. I don't think people understand how important that is. No, for sure it is.

32:17For sure it's very important. Like when you feel comfortable, like when you like where you are, when you like where you are, obviously you will give your best. And also a big, big point. The team that you're, the team of national team that we are we were always playing the same position always so I exactly knew my position didn't change but at United if you see we always change every year we change formation I play on the left like left me I play on the right I play as a striker I play as a midfielder I play as a six I play as an eight I always change and if you see the other if I compare to the other players like Kevin De Bruyne or Modric, they only play in the same position.

33:06So you can only see them there. And you can only judge them there. In the position that they know. And me, we change at two, we play at three and my best season at United was when we play at three. It was the season after the World Cup. When I was in the team of the year. you know and at this time for an United player to be in team of the year it was tough it was me and David and I think that was a big achievement with an up and down season always United was like an up and down season we had like some good season the last good season that we had Man City had two open more than us you know Man City were too good and Liverpool were too good but yeah I think this This is the main, this is a big, big point because at Juventus, I never change position.

34:04At France, I never change position. I know we start playing in three sometimes, but most of the time we play with two. So I know exactly how we play. So we always play like that and I get used to it. What would have been your best position, do you think, at United when you went back? As an eight? I think as an eight. In a three? It's not, I don't try to make an excuse, but, you know, it was like, at United, and basically people wanted me to get the ball, make the pass, make the assist, or score a goal. I had many things to think about and defend also. So I wasn't thinking about myself or thinking about being the best.

34:46I had to do too many things for me. It's not an excuse that I tried to make, but it's what I felt. Right, man, we've got loads still to come out on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this. Could AI help you do more of what you love? Workday is the AI platform for HR and finance that actually knows your business. We help you handle the have-to-dos so you can focus on the can't-wait-to-dos. It's a new Workday.

35:18I think also, I think because of your price tag at the time. Yeah, definitely. People were expecting you and demanding that from you like I've never seen. And even since then, we've had players like, I don't know, gone for 100 millions of pounds, Grealish or Virts even now, or Isak, where they've not been there that long. But I don't think they get treated with the same demands and almost sometimes the animosity that was put towards you. Did you feel that? But you are united.

35:49You are united. What do you expect? It's the biggest club. if not the biggest club, he's in the top three. Let's say he's in the top three, for sure. And probably Madrid, Manchester United with media. Like, they're quite the same for me. And, yeah, that's expecting. But, I mean, the price is not me, you know? Yeah, yeah. It's not me. I know he came. I came. I was the most, yeah, it was the biggest transfer in the history back then. even not like for a few weeks probably because then after Dembélé or Neymar. Also the launch with Stormzy was sick. Oh yeah that was sick. Whose idea was that? Adidas I think.

36:34Was it? And Stormzy is a United fan also. Yeah it was sick. But yes, gonna make a big boom, the comeback also. And the pokeback. Yeah the pokeback. No it was crazy and I was expecting a big, and we had a great team. Zlatan came, Miki Tyon also. You know, we had a really good team. But in one team, you have 11 players, you know. And I'm sure that I should have done more. But I don't know if I could have done more. Because of what? Because of everything. Because of the team. You know, when a player, I mean, can I'm not comparing but can Bruno Fernandes do more than he does now at United with what's got around him and do you think Bruno if he's in the other team he's not in the top three Ballon d 'Or player that's for me you you put him in the in City he's Ballon d 'Or free he's in the free Ballon d 'Or Bruno Fernandes with the stats the season, the way he plays and everything.

37:48But when you don't win, they don't think about you. It's like that. This is life. This is football. It's true when you put it like that. It's true. You were like the most talked about guy on the planet around that time, I'm telling you. And people like, even like Graham Sooners, it's like in England, people talk about it like folklore now. Like Graham Sooners was coming at you. I think you had four assists in one game once. Oh, yeah, yeah. And it was your fault. Or someone else won the game for you, wasn't you? Yeah. No, but, you know, it's, it's, it's, seriously, now, and even back then, I, you know, seriously, and I, I think we talked, and I said, I didn't know who he was, and I heard that he was, he's a legend.

38:32No, you said to me, I remember I said to you, you said to me, who is that? I didn't even know who he was, what did he do? You didn't even know he played football. It's not, it wasn't even bad. I didn't know who he was, but then after I saw, like, he was a legend. It's a great player. He respect that. He respect what he did and everything. If he understands football, if he knows football, if he knows what's going on at United and everything, he would understand. But I'm not the one that would say, who's this guy? I don't need him. I had a better career than him. We don't need that. I mean, he had his opinion.

39:07And I would take that as a compliment. Do you think he was ever treated differently? I mean, I saw a quote from Ian Wright the other day. He was talking about Drew Berenham and he gets a lot of criticism in the English media. Does he? Yeah. And what William Wright was saying, which I said made me think of you, was that he doesn't think that the English media and a lot of people are ready for a confident, sometimes brash, sometimes flash, young black man. Do you think maybe the media in France, in England, wherever, maybe just wasn't ready for that review? I think so. To be honest, I think so. But I wasn't the first one.

39:49David Beckham was. One of the first, exactly. David Beckham was. We all copied David Beckham a little bit. He came with hairstyle, he came with fashion, the couples and everything. But he was looking cool at the time. He still is. He still is. He's cool. He's the cool guy. but I think I'm also known because of that because of my personality because you see on the pitch my hairstyle but it's not I don't even do it for the people but I just do it because I was doing it when I was nine when I was ten I always wanted like to be different you know different shoes different just be different you know but that doesn't change anything that doesn't make you less professional that doesn't make you a better player or a worse player you know it's just the looks you know it's for me for me i will never judge somebody because of of that because the way he plays and people try to mix stuff mix up stuff it's just they don't like the way if i'm doing adidas uh shoot and he looks cool they don't like it you know it's this you know and the kids they're they're like oh it's you know still the dancing but this is me and i will never change.

41:05This is who I am. I'm like that. So I will tell the other guys, it's like I love playing football. I love this is my life. Football is my life. So I don't care. I just, when I'm on the pitch, I just enjoy. I just enjoy the same way I was when I was a kid and I was playing in the hood. When I'm on the pitch, it's the same feeling that I want to give to people. Do you want to entertain? Is that in your mind when you're playing? I want to entertain the world. Of course, that's why I love football. Because I got entertained when I was a kid. Not because the guy did a slight tackle, put the ball outside or kicked the ball.

41:47No, it means the dribbling, it's the passing, it's the finishing. Obviously, when you get older and when you get in pro, you have to make it at the right time. You have to make it the way that he helps the team. so when you do it like that it's fine just on that point if you could look back on your career and go I want to improve my career what one or two things do you think you would have added to your game that you would go that would make me score more goals score more goals yeah when you score goals you're the best I can play bad I score two goals so man of the match it's true and this is not the way I see football that's me personally you know you can score for me, I like to play good.

42:31As a midfielder, for me, a midfielder, if he recover balls, gets in the box, creates chances, you know, have a little dribble sometimes, you know, a little dribble sometimes and really control the midfield. A midfielder did this game. For me, he did what he had to do, you know, and everything else is extra. The goal is extra. The assist is extra. That description is very similar to what we interviewed Steven Gerrard. Very similar description of what is needed for a midfielder to be like top. STVJ was one of the guys that also changed. The box-to-box midfielder, him, Lampard, all those guys, you know, they changed.

43:21They were scoring a lot of goals. I mean, Lampard was scoring a lot of goals. He was known for scoring goals, you know. He got 20. It's a bit like Jude. Yeah, he got 20, five seasons in a row. That's crazy. Crazy numbers. That's crazy. This is for a midfielder. Yeah. But he was a boss in Chelsea. He was a boss. He was like in place in Chelsea, you know. Again, playing in a position every week, you knew where he was. I don't try to make excuses, but when you're comfortable, you're in your position. We don't put him on the right. It's not his position. But I take it also as a compliment because even Deshaun told me, oh, he has ability, he can do everything and stuff like that.

44:03So I try. But you know, as soon as I'm on the pitch and I give my best. Just talking about England, what was the most difficult thing about playing in England to you? Was maybe the media. Yeah. Maybe the media was a bit too much. It was like a bit of the extra sportive, like outside life and everything. about the car that you drive, all this stuff. I mean, every time they try to create a story.

44:33But that's what makes the English media famous. I guess, you know, this is normal. When you get in England, the drama and stuff like that, I remember the Sun, like the Sun newspaper all the time. People were watching and always they try to find a story. Oh, this player went out and stuff like this. I think they're known for that, you know. Just talking about when you signed for the club and you talked, having clear instructions of what to do makes a player better. Yes. Yeah. Did you have clear instructions when you signed for Man United with Ed Woodward, with Jose Mourinho? No, not really. I was there.

45:16I'll tell you, it was the first year of Jose. so I was there we were playing we stopped playing in two in two midfield so and it's not like we were trained a lot tactically the way I was doing at Juventus Juventus every week you train tactically so all the players know exactly what to do I was you were there we do the movement we do like 11 against 0 we were doing this almost every day so like for me was like okay clear when we get the ball i have to be there i have to do this and stuff like that and it was a big change for me and the way that mourinho was training he was like don't do too much in in training and give everything in in the game so totally the opposite of uh of italy it's literally the opposite of italy and france yes opposite yeah right i mean would there be anything that you would change about your relationship with jersey marina

46:16are yes you don't want to be i mean i don't i never had i don't have any problem with any coaches you know i always respect always respect they tell me what to do they are the boss that's the truth they are the boss they decide if you play or not and we were very like i said we were very cool at the start very cool sending messages and stuff like that he's a really funny man he's a funny guy It's really special, to be honest. And after a time, I think the injuries created that. And, you know, when always the media ask him questions about me, maybe it makes him a bit like, okay, is he done? And this is the problem also with me.

47:01Like a lot of people, they love to ask about me. Always, po, po, po, and that probably pissed him off. That's true. I can understand that. I can understand that. But what was the big differences? You go in there after you're coming back again, you re-signed. What's the big differences between the club that you left and then the club that you rejoined? The team. You remember the first month that I arrived, I saw you and we talked and I said... When I talked to you in the car? Your mum was in the car. Remember after the game, I was in my car and I saw your car. It was after the game, right? It was after the game.

47:38i think it was in the parking and we was talking yes and we were talking exactly and i open i thought and i thought that also i said oh it's different everything is different the energy is different i remember and i said when i left it wasn't like that you know like you came to manchester united with the clear you know the creature of manchester united and it was a bit it was different even the like the food everything where inside was different i said it's a bit weird you know and i was like i told i told partners like man is different i don't know if i'll finish my contract basically here because i don't feel like it's the same it's not the same club as when i left i said that but you go in there you got that zlatan in there rooney's in there still i think is it uh carers jesse you played with as a kid yeah so you still had good characters in he still had like good players wasn't playing um was i stopped playing but he was playing on enough i don't know if they had good relationship with the jose um valencia was there so who's setting the standards in training and like no but like basically the the guys that came slatan david was still there me and matic came a year after with romelu and that was the the year when we arrived second and when mourinho said this is the best thing that the united could do you know yeah we all thought we was mad but he was his buddy right i think that was the maximum we could have done because there's no panic yeah because europe at least you know i'm happy to say that i was in the team of the last European Cup of United.

49:24You know? You see, it was kind of messy. I had Mourinho, I had Oli, I had Ralf that came for a few months. And right after that, 10 I came, but I left. But you can see in six years, you had many managers for a big club like that. And it was kind of strange. One of the things I wanted to really talk to you about is we never fell out, but I always thought, hmm, I wonder what Paul, I'm not sure Paul's eyebrows was like, you remember when I said something on TV about you dancing and posting a video of you and Jesse? Yeah. When you were like sixth or seventh in the league. What did you think when you saw that?

50:11Because we never discussed it properly. But yeah, but it wasn't after a defeat. No, no, you won. You won, but you were sixth or seventh in the league. That's my point. What can you do? Stay in your room, lock yourself in the room and cry? When this is me, you enjoy yourself. Know where it is. I know it's a big club. If I think about it, now because I know the impact that it can make, it can make people think, oh, they are happy to be seventh and stuff like that. They are dancing. I wouldn't do it again. You know, if someone come and tell me, oh, shouldn't do that, you know, the dancing, you know, like, you're not there in the league.

50:52But for me, if you're seventh or if you're first, what's the difference? It's not because you win that you're allowed to do other things. You know, it's not because you're first that you allowed yourself not to be in the gym and work, do some more. It's not because you're first, like, you will, or you're seventh and you won't go in the gym and also do more, you know what I mean? For me, it's the same. I think what I learned on that situation is to understand the next generation more. They're different to us, my generation. I mean, yes, for sure. Yeah, and you, like you say, because our generation never had social media growing up, so we would have made the same, if not more, mistakes than you guys, right?

51:32But maybe, yes, you can laugh and enjoy it, maybe without the posting on social media. But I think still, it's taken me and I'm sure loads of different people in the media and pundits and ex-players to understand that you guys just do stuff a little bit different and that's fine yeah but i wouldn't like if i would do it again i would like if you asked me should i would would you do it again i would say no i wouldn't do it again i i want to just talk to you about um bruno you mentioned bruno before and i could see your admiration for him but you know he said about um something about you we do a thing that we're a player when you come on tell me your best five-a-side team that you've played played with players that you played with right but don't make me do that no no he said He mentioned you and three other players who have played with you all mentioned you as well.

52:18But what he said, he was quite interesting. He could do everything as a midfielder. Run, recover balls, score goals, give assists, head the ball, win goals. He's the most complete midfielder I have seen. I respect that. To return the favour, what would you say about Bruno? What do you feel when you speak about him? for me the same actually I know he's not physically the same as me but he cannot jump and recover the ball like I would do but he can do everything he can do everything like I said Bruno Fernandes in other big clubs he's in the top 3 Ballon d 'Or punto final finished seriously I don't disagree by the way I agree For me, as a midfielder, we talk about Kevin De Bruyne, we talk about Modric, talk about Ozil and stuff like that, talk about stats.

53:20I think he came as a midfielder, he scored more than Lampard in the season, has the same position, 8, 10, you know. He does more assists. He's everywhere on the pitch. he has a volume he keeps running he's smart he can play two touch one touch he can shoot but they say Bruno has a problem they need to find somebody he's at United they need to find somebody but football lovers will always respect Bruno Fernandes that you like his style is a different thing if you like his style the way he plays or not this is different opinions. But football players, they will understand that this guy is a top player.

54:12Talking about other players, there's not many better players positioned to judge this more than you. Scott McTominay, why has it worked so well for him in Italy compared to what it was in Italy? Antonio Conte. Believe me or not, when I saw that Scott would go to Napoli with Antonio Conte, I said watch Conte would love him because he has everything that Conte loves. We play with teammates. He's a hard worker disciplined he trains always like he plays but he's somebody that you know you need to have in your team that you will give everything you need someone like that it was kind of who wasn't playing that much at your time that was on the bench.

55:04Fletcher. And Scott knows how to score goals. Fletcher knew how to score goals too. Scott scores goals, scores a lot of goals. In training, he always scores, you know. And I was like, with Conte, he will make him run and he likes to run. He's strong. Italian football, they're not too strong. I think it will work. Believe me or not. That's what I said. And I know Conte. What's so good? I mean, you've spoken about Conte, yeah? What is so good about Conte? Conte... That fits Scott as well. Yeah, like... Sorry? That fits Scott as well, yeah. What's so good about him? Scott loves to run. He loves to...

55:46He loves that. He has, like, this character we were talking about. He has this discipline, this thing, this fire inside. Yeah, yeah. That makes the difference. And with Conte, he can only improve... Conte could only improve Scott because Scott will know exactly what he will have to do. Back to your point again. Clear instructions. Mr Martin, it always goes the same thing. You're consistent with the way you're talking about the game. I tell you, I'm not crazy. To finish off, I'm going to talk about now. How are you enjoying your football? And I'm grateful to be back and play football again after everything that happened.

56:27You know you've been through it. so you know how it is it's totally different I see football totally different I enjoy myself I want to enjoy and I want to now arrive at Monaco it's a young team so I came also as a one of the by the oldest one of the oldest of the team with the experience to help also the team and also to enjoy myself you know because you miss a lot of football you know we have goals obviously everybody has goals when you play but the first goal that i have and the most important is to to enjoy to enjoy and good and i really love it i really love it because you forget that when you're when you before you played you was all serious i got this i got you that goddess no you i've seen you a few times you just look relaxed man you look like you're just content and you just there's no what what we're going to change we cannot change the past it's it's gone you can only leave the moment and I know I've been out for two years.

57:27I've been watching the games on TV. I've been staying at Juventus in Italy and I wasn't even allowed to go inside. I was watching the stadium like this every day with my kids telling me, Papi, when are you going to go to the game? I say, soon, soon, soon. You know, stuff like that. Were you not allowed to go to the stadium? No. No. Was you allowed to train? No. That, with me, was one of the biggest things. I wasn't allowed to play training matches. I was allowed to train, but I wasn't allowed to play training matches to stay sharp, to keep my eye and to keep, to be ready for when, to come back.

58:06I wasn't even allowed in training. To go there, I had to train in my house or find somewhere to train. Easy, normal? Yes, I don't know. But there's similarities between us. I mean, like there's a there's not a question of us taking drugs to enhance our performance, but people just question me, you. And even now, like I didn't take nothing and I wasn't convicted of taking any drugs to try and enhance performance like yourself. But even now, people, they question even me now. And this is like, I don't know how many years ago, 15 years ago, maybe more. And that's that's the thing when you know inside your heart, you're pure and people question that.

58:49That's the thing that got me. I think that's one of the things that got me most. It makes me a better, more experienced person, a better person also. And to be careful, not to trust everybody. And that's it. I mean, this is the way of life. This is part of my story. What's been one of the biggest personal challenges that you faced? Because you've been well documented in some of the stuff that's common with you. family this the drug stuff obviously you know what it is i think it's the football the family family you have differences and it's always going to be your family you know that was tough but to be out of like football and the way that i was out you know like when people really change you know they or they hear something and they don't want to know the real story because they read only the newspaper they see oh they're stopping positive testosterone they don't want to know the real story so they just read that and that's it and they have this they put this in their head did you lose a lot of friends in this time did you realize about people who were friends friends or people you thought were friends yeah friends is a big word yes you have to You have to understand what, like friends, who is a friend.

1:00:15You know, you call people friends, you call people brothers and stuff like that. Yeah. It's life, man. It's life. At the end, you're not going to be like, feel sorry. You know, you're not going to feel sorry for yourself. Say our friends, because this is the way it is. This is life. When you shine, everybody's there. You know, honey, all the bees wants to be around the honey. It's normal. when there's no more honey and like people talk about you i mean people don't want to be near you you know and unfortunately it's like that how important is your mom because i mean when i saw you last time your mom was in the car she's i think she's been there in the big moments the good the bad the ugly how important is your mom my mom my mom she's the she's the pillar the pillar of the family she's always there i have you only have one mom you know i lost my dad so obviously for her to hear all these stories it was tough for her, really tough but you know she was always there and be a mother she was there giving me strength my family giving me strength my wife, my kids, seeing them helped me a lot also and obviously as you know as a Muslim, the religion helped me a lot to go through all this because if you see the life of the prophet.

1:01:38They went through all the hardship and what I have is nothing. What people have in Palestine and stuff like that. What it is. My life is nothing compared to them. I was just out of the beach and I had problems with people that I used to call family. I could eat every day. I could go to Dubai. I could travel. It's nothing compared to all those. nothing so you have to be you have to you have to be grateful for what you have and you learn from all those those hardships the last thing on your mom i think is one of the things that i looked at when i looked at from afar of the situation especially with your family is for your mom to be in the middle of the of two people she loves and look to make it short she gained weight and and she lose weight.

1:02:34That's how difficult it was. Because when brothers argue and stuff like that, the first person that is touched is the parents. So it was difficult for my mother, obviously. And you have to be there for her. Life goes fast. And we know that maybe I made a mistake also myself. My brother knew he made some mistakes. But at the end, it's our mother, and you You have to make her happy. 100%. All right. So one last thing before we go to the five-a-side team, right? Because you have to be the five-a-side team, right? Yeah, I'm not going to tell you that. Sorry. I cannot put people, friends and teammates.

1:03:18I cannot take because every... I cannot choose. I cannot choose. Come on, man. Everyone's choose. Beckham's choose, Cristiano's choose. I know. Five players, no goalkeepers. Then after you receive a message, You didn't put me and stuff and I put you. I don't want to be in this. Everyone's looking for your team, bro. Just give me one defender, two midfielders and a striker. Just for you. I'll try, I'll try. Come on, man. Okay, okay. So you're five aside, give me a defender. Varane. What was so good about Varane? He had everything. I loved him. He was a little you. He was a little you. You were the Royals.

1:04:03You had everything. You were technique. I don't know if you were that fast, though. You weren't that quick. You were fast. You were fast. He was faster. Let's say. You were stronger. You were stronger than him. Yeah. I think maybe I anticipate more. Yes. Because you weren't that fast. That's why you're smart. You're smart. But yeah, I think... Varane, midfield. N 'Golo. I thought you would put him in because he'd done so much that you didn't want to do. I told you, when you play with him, you play with 11 players. One more than everyone else. Seriously. It's not normal. It's an alien. Alien. Alien.

1:04:48Go on, number two midfielders then. Number two midfielder. Jose, Piano. You could put three midfielders and one striker. Anything. That I played with, huh? I put Bruno. Bruno. I put Bruno. So no Perle, no Scalzi, no Vidal. Yeah. Well done, Bruno. Bruno, you put mine up, I put his name. You go like this. Strikers. Strikers, that I... This? I cannot. It's too hard. Tell me who you're thinking of then. I played with Cristiano. Cristiano. Even I played with Karim Benzema. Benzema. I played with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Zlatan. I put them all. Tevez. Tevez. Wait, wait, wait. Anelka. Nico. How good is he, mate?

1:05:42Nico. Nico. This guy is one of the top three strikers I played against. And I played against all of the guys. Put them all. Please, put them all. Anelka. Anelka or Henry, please. Anelka or Henry?

1:06:03I would take Anelka. Because my story is a bit like him when I left and everything. You know, his qualities and stuff like that. But Nico was a bit more complete. Yeah. For me, Nicola Anelka was more hard to play against, I found. Nico. When he was at Arsenal. Yes. Not after that. At Arsenal, when he run behind. Anelka. Bro. Anelka had everything. He was disgusting. He was so hard to play against. And when he does this. Yeah. But Thierry was more hard when Thierry got the ball in his feet. If Kier got the ball in his feet and he turned and he started running at you, over. But Nico was wanting to go here all the time.

1:06:52When he went to Chelsea, when he went to Liverpool and Bolton, he wanted the ball to defeat a lot. It wasn't as hard. His talent was one of the best I played against. I know Nico was different. So Nico was in your team and who? I played with Nico, like I said Zlatan, Chris, Tevez, Mbappe.

1:07:16See, I was even thinking clubs Mbappe, Benzema. You can't do this. You see? You see? Just say one and leave.

1:07:29I'm not going to do that. I will be the first one in your podcast. Do not say the strikers. When you've got Zlatan and Nelka. I text you. I text you. Text me, yeah? Text me. And you're going to put that. That's his response. Zlatan. Benzema, Zlatan. Let's talk about them a little bit. Go on a little bit. I'll give you that. Tell me, tell me, tell me. Karim. Tell me what was so good about this guy. So class. He was class. I think when I see him play, you know, he doesn't care if to score goals. He can give assist, no problem. But his touch, that little touch pass, his finish. so easy to play with him.

1:08:17Always available. You see Berber? Technically and stuff like that. Karim has that. When I played against him, I said he's the most complete in all areas. Like every aspect of his game is eight or nine minimum. You know what I mean? Do you know what I mean? Yeah, he can mix runs. He can fit. He can be short areas. Play like that. He can see him make a good pass. And those strikers, you won't see him. You won't see a lot. Zlatan? Zlatan. Zlatan. We don't talk about his god, all this craziness. Football. Technique. Strength. He wasn't fast at the time when I played against him. But the power, the technique, you give him a ball and he gives you acrobatic pass, back heel and everything.

1:09:17He's shooting. He was a cheat code. He was a cheat code, to be honest. And I played with him a bit at the end. And he was still doing that. But now Zlatan... I mean, those are the players that change football, you know? They will always be remembered. Ballon d 'Or or not, they will always be remembered. Zlatan, Henri, Anelka, Cristiano, Benzema, Tevez. Wow. Do you put Frank as a striker also? Frank Ribéry. Oh, as well. Yeah, I forgot about him. Seriously? I would be very happy when I finish. Like, I'm very happy if I finish my career. I said, look, I enjoyed my career. I played with players that made me enjoy in training and in games.

1:10:13Also, the type of players that can make you better as well. Because you give them the ball. Definitely. They do something, assist. Definitely. You know, I'm there, I give them the ball and I watch them. I watch them. Oh, I love it. I love it. Well, Paul, listen, I've waited a long time. I know you did. It was worth the wait. I've been on you all the time. Was it? Oh, bro. Paul, speaking to Femme. Is he going to come? but it's been a pleasure man I really appreciate your time thank you man good luck in coming back enjoy your football enjoy life I hope I can make you enjoy too yeah I want to see some more just the volley you know the passes I will try it I will try it too alright man thank you thank you again appreciate it my man yes that was fun no that was nice man I appreciate it man seriously I waited a long time you were the first one I think you wanted me to be the first one yeah and I was asking at the beginning I said And Paul Popper is the one I want to speak to the most because there's a lot of people who speak about him, but no one actually speaks to him.

1:11:15Yeah. You know what I mean? So I appreciate it, man. Thank you, man. Thank you. And you're looking healthy, man. Whoa. Not yet. No, I have to... More. You want to be more? The Abbey's there? Oh! Okay. He's there. He's there. He's there. Okay.

1:11:43Are you really buying a car online on AutoTrader right now? Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget. You can really have it delivered. Or pick it up. Mommy, look! I think your kid is walking up the slide. Really? AutoTrader. Buy your car online. Really?