Claudio Marchisio defends his Juventus teammate Paul Pogba – “his qualities can make all the difference.”
The 22-year-old has attracted criticism this season, with suggestions he’s struggling to handle the pressure of playing in the number 10 shirt, and without Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal.
“Pogba? It’s normal that when you’re that good there’s a lot of expectation,” Marchisio explained to Sky.
Claudio Marchisio defends his Juventus teammate Paul Pogba – “his qualities can make all the difference.”
The 22-year-old has attracted criticism this season, with suggestions he’s struggling to handle the pressure of playing in the number 10 shirt, and without Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal.
“Pogba? It’s normal that when you’re that good there’s a lot of expectation,” Marchisio explained to Sky.
“Paul has done really well in the last few years since he’s been here at Juventus, and it’s normal that when important players leave, above all in the midfield, that expectations are growing more and more.
“But I repeat, he’s a very good player who has a great future ahead of him. Paul knows what his strengths are.
“He has to think exclusively about playing for the team, and about his qualities, which can make all the difference.”
Marchisio was absent at the start of the season through injury, and is looking to help the side climb the table now he has returned.
“I’m better, and I’m definitely glad to be back on the pitch after a long lay-off, which had never happened to me before.
“Being out and seeing my teammates play is never good, you always want to be on the pitch making your contribution, even more so this season as the start wasn’t easy.
“Now I’m back and we’re all ready to return to the highest possible level.
“We’ve had difficulty in the last two games [Inter and Borussia Monchengladbach], we got two 0-0 results in a row, so it’s normal that we’d ask why Juventus failed to score.
“Since the start of the season the team has always played well, and created a lot more. We’ve converted less in the final third though, and that makes you think.
“Particularly in the final third, in our choice of pass, we have to find the teammate in the best position.
“Yesterday evening there’s also the fact we didn’t find the goal despite a frenzy of shots, we didn’t stay calm and evaluate the best choice to make.
“So we’re at a point where we have to work quickly.”
The midfielder also took the time to praise another of his midfield colleagues, new signing Sami Khedira.
“He’s played in great teams and won a lot,” Marchisio noted.
“He has great experience. He’s close with all the players, and has integrated very well on and off the pitch.
“He also started with a big injury, I can say that he’s a great worker. He’s worked well to make himself immediately available and make a contribution.
“The fact he came back and managed to score means he certainly helped the team.”