
Paul Pogba's Monaco comeback race against Ligue 1 season start
The former Manchester United star faces a race against time to regain form before the 2025-26 Ligue 1 season begins.
Pogba dreams of reclaiming his place in the France national team, calling his Monaco move 'stage one' of his comeback.
His emotional unveiling in July, where he tearfully signed a two-year deal, went viral on social media.
Beyond football, Pogba's arrival has been a marketing boon for Monaco, with high-profile sponsor appearances and brand launches.
His new jewellery line, 'Unbreakable,' symbolises his resilience after enduring blackmail, injuries, and an 18-month doping ban.
Pogba's brother was jailed in 2024 for attempting to extort €13 million from him, adding to his off-field struggles.
After training alone in the US post-Juventus exit, Pogba chose Monaco for its lifestyle, family appeal, and Ligue 1 challenge.
Monaco's GM Thiago Scuro confirmed Pogba is progressing well in individual training but highlighted the need for full-group sessions.
Coach Adi Huetter praised Pogba's commitment as he adapts to being the squad's senior figure.
Scuro stressed Pogba must handle daily high-intensity training before considering a competitive return.
A potential comeback target is Monaco's October clash against Nice, with a 2026 World Cup spot as the ultimate goal.
Scuro added, 'Seeing him play in the World Cup would mean he's succeeded at Monaco.' - AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Luis Enrique praises Chevalier after stellar PSG debut in Super Cup win
LUCAS Chevalier made a dream debut for Paris St Germain in their Super Cup triumph over Tottenham Hotspur. The 23-year-old goalkeeper earned widespread acclaim after a series of crucial saves, including a penalty stop. Manager Luis Enrique lauded Chevalier's composure under pressure following Gianluigi Donnarumma's abrupt exit. 'We relied on Lucas ... he just arrived, but it was time for him to show off. We're very happy because he made it,' Enrique said. Chevalier's arrival on Sunday came amid controversy as Donnarumma was dropped from the squad. The young keeper's penalty save against Micky van de Ven sealed PSG's 4-3 shootout victory. 'This is PSG, you have to know how to handle the pressure, Lucas is a top-class goalkeeper, he's capable of it,' Enrique added. Teammate Ousmane Dembele described Chevalier's debut as a perfect script. 'It's a bit of a script: he comes in and saves a penalty. It's a good start for him, we're happy,' Dembele said. Enrique acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding Donnarumma's departure. 'Everyone was talking about the situation; his (Lucas's position) wasn't easy, but he showed great character,' the manager noted. PSG now turn their focus to their Ligue 1 opener against Nantes this Sunday. - Reuters


The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Luis Enrique applauds keeper Chevalier after dream PSG debut
(Reuters) -Lucas Chevalier impressed on his debut as Paris St Germain's new first-choice goalkeeper on Wednesday in their Super Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur, drawing praise from manager Luis Enrique. The 23-year-old former Lille keeper was thrust into the spotlight after Luis Enrique made it clear earlier this week that Gianluigi Donnarumma had been axed from the squad, prompting the Italian international to begin searching for a new club. Chevalier, who arrived at the club on Sunday, earned praise from teammates and fans alike after making several acrobatic saves, including Micky van de Ven's attempt during the penalty shootout. "We relied on Lucas ... he just arrived, but it was time for him to show off. We're very happy because he made it," Luis Enrique told reporters after PSG beat Tottenham 4-3 on penalties. "This is PSG, you have to know how to handle the pressure, Lucas is a top-class goalkeeper, he's capable of it. He did his job, welcome to him with a trophy." Luis Enrique admitted that the publicity surrounding Donnarumma was far from ideal for the club. "Everyone was talking about the situation; his (Lucas's position) wasn't easy, but he showed great character," Luis Enrique added. "It's a bit of a script: he comes in and saves a penalty. It's a good start for him, we're happy," teammate Ousmane Dembele said. PSG will start their Ligue 1 campaign at Nantes on Sunday. (Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk)


The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
PSG clinch UEFA Super Cup in dramatic penalty shootout against Tottenham
PARIS Saint-Germain lifted the UEFA Super Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Tottenham Hotspur following a 2-2 draw in Udine. Tottenham appeared set for victory under new manager Thomas Frank after leading 2-0 early in the second half. Micky van de Ven opened the scoring in the 39th minute before Cristian Romero doubled Spurs' advantage three minutes after the break. PSG fought back late with substitute Lee Kang-in reducing the deficit in the 85th minute. Goncalo Ramos then headed home the equaliser deep into stoppage time to force penalties. The shootout began poorly for PSG as Vitinha missed their first attempt. New goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier saved Van de Ven's effort before Mathys Tel missed for Spurs. Nuno Mendes converted the decisive penalty to secure PSG's first-ever Super Cup triumph. Dominic Solanke, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Pedro Porro all scored for Tottenham in the shootout. Ramos, Ousmane Dembele, and Lee kept PSG in contention before Mendes sealed the win. PSG captain Marquinhos praised his team's resilience after the match. 'We showed that football is not just about physicality but also mentality and tactics,' he told Canal Plus. Frank expressed pride in his Tottenham side despite the defeat. 'We had them where we wanted for 80 minutes, but penalties are a coin flip,' he told TNT Sports. PSG now prepare for their Ligue 1 opener against Nantes on Sunday. Tottenham begin their Premier League campaign at home to Burnley on Saturday. Chevalier made key saves on his PSG debut after replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma. Van de Ven and Romero capitalised on defensive lapses to put Spurs in control. Lee and Ramos sparked PSG's late revival with crucial goals in the closing stages. The victory marks PSG's fifth trophy of 2025 after their Champions League triumph. - AFP