After losing Paul Pogba to an injury against FC Basel last week, it was unknown how long he would be out. Now it still seems that there is little known about when the French midfielder will be back.
It looked bad enough when Pogba left during the 19th minute of the Champions League opener. Initially it looked like Pogba would miss six weeks, which would include three Premier League matches and multiple Champions League group stage matches.
Later it was suggested that Pogba could be out twelve weeks, which would put him out until late December at least. However, Jose Mourinho branded those reports to be false and said that Pogba could be out as little as twelve days. I think that was nothing more than pure hyperbole to deal with exasperation at such a question.
If Pogba were to actually miss three months, here are the matches we would miss in various competitions:
Premier League:
9/23 at Southampton
9/30 Crystal Palace
10/14 at Liverpool
10/21 at Huddersfield
10/28 Tottenham
11/5 at Chelsea
11/18 Newcastle
11/25 Brighton
11/28 at Watford
12/2 at Arsenal
12/9 Man City
12/12 Bournemouth
12/16 at West Brom
Next: Assessing Pogba's Injury
Champions League:
9/27 at CSKA Moscow
10/18 at Benfica
10/31 Benfica
11/22 at FC Basel
12/5 at CSKA Moscow
There are some tough stretches in this schedule for sure. Namely from the game at Anfield to the game at Stamford Bridge. Not only are three of the four Premier League matches on the road, but they also have to go to Portugal to face a side that is Champions League tested. After just two days of rest (in which they will have to travel) they face the newly promoted Terriers. Even though they are the weakest team in that bunch, they aren’t making things easy for anyone as they sit sixth in the Premier League currently. Mourinho would truly have to get creative in the midfield to navigate that stretch without stumbling.
However, Pogba himself decided to inform us on how he is in the most flamboyant way possible–an instagram video of him dancing nearly in his underwear.
Of course, most athletes say they are fine when they aren’t. I don’t know if he’s just looking to attract attention here by leaving very little to the imagination, make a fashion statement or actually tell everyone that he is healing well. I sure hope it’s the third option.
Next: Jose Mourinho furious with Manchester United star
I also expect him back way quicker than 12 weeks. Maybe just a few more weeks will pass before we see him on the field again.