Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has taken Graeme Souness to task for his latest comments regarding Paul Pogba.
No fan of the French midfielder's work in the Premier League, it was suspected that Pogba's four assists during United's 5-1 defeat of Leeds United last weekend might warm even Souness.
Appearing on Sky Sports the day after Pogba's stellar performance, the Liverpool legend couldn't muster up much by way of praise for the United player, however.
"We expect that from a £100million man," he remarked in response to Micah Richards' point that Paul Pogba had created four of United's goals.
For Rio Ferdinand, enough is enough.
Souness 🗣 "For me, the star of the show was Greenwood."
Micah 🗣 "Pogba's had four assists."
Souness 🗣 "We expect that from a 100 million pound man."@MicahRichards not allowing Graeme Souness to forget Paul Pogba's performance against Leeds United pic.twitter.com/IvRPkHo6ir— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 15, 2021
After initially attempting to give the former Scottish international the benefit of the doubt, Ferdinand stated that sometimes a player's performance must overrun a pundit's preferences.
"I don't think Graeme Souness articulated it but I believe he thinks (about Pogba's achievement)," Rio Ferdinand explained on his Vibe with Five YouTube podcast. "Let's not get out of our pram about this, let's not go overboard, let me see this for the next three months, I want consistency.
"I think that's where Souness' mind is at with Paul Pogba. If we're being honest, consistency is probably one of the factors that goes against Paul Pogba in his Man United career.
"When a man produces four assists on day one of the season, [however], you've got to put your feelings to one side and say "you know what, well played", because it doesn't happen often."
Paul Pogba and Fred salute the Manchester United fans following Saturday's 5-1 defeat of Leeds United | PA ImagesInto the final year of his contract with Manchester United, much uncertainty surrounds where Paul Pogba will be playing his football beyond this season.
Joining OTB Sports to review the opening weekend of Premier League football, former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane was impressed with the French midfielder's showing.
"Clearly you could see, without the ball, his work rate was top class I felt," Kilbane explained in a segment you can watch back in full here. "His attitude was spot on at the start of the match."
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