More than two years after his departure from AS Saint-Etienne (2012-2018), Florentin Pogba is back in France, in Sochaux, where he has signed up for three seasons. The summer programming takes one of the three members of the Pogba siblings (with Paul and Mathias) to the Parc des Princes this Wednesday August 5 (7 p.m.) for a special preparation match: the 14th in Ligue 2 against a top member European 8. The 29-year-old central defender talks with us about his return to France and this meeting of the week.
Why did you choose to sign at Sochaux?
FLORENTIN POGBA. Quite simply because the coach (Editor's note: Omar Daf) told me a lot about the club's project and convinced me. I really appreciate him as a person, even before I can work with him. Sochaux's ambitions are real and that's all that helped me sign here.
After two experiences abroad, in Turkey, then in the United States, was it time to return to France?
It was not easy for my family to be abroad for two years. Sochaux is the club that showed me the most interest and I liked the project. In the United States (Editor's note: in Atlanta United), I had a very good experience. I wanted this challenge, to discover the continent and see the football from there. But I'm happy to be home.
What are the ambitions this season?
The main objective is to regain a certain stability compared to previous seasons. The club has been hit financially. So we have to maintain ourselves, stabilize and, why not, try to move up to Ligue 1. Will it be this season? We have the team for but I don't prefer to announce a goal so high. We will say as soon as possible.
💬 Florentin Pogba, the new FCSM recruit, has a message for you! 👌🏾 #Mercato pic.twitter.com/sbfMebQ673
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (@FCSM_officiel) May 27, 2020How do you feel physically after several months off?
Good. I played a half-time last Friday in a friendly (against Dijon, 0-0) and I feel nickel. During the lockdown, it was pretty weird. In particular, I had work to do with a physical trainer but we couldn't get close ... I had videos, it was a bit of telework. Nothing beats finding the land and the life of a group.
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How do you approach this friendly match against PSG, a team that will play a Champions League quarter-final in a week?
We are aware that the adversary is not like the others. But for us, it's still a preparation match. We know that PSG has something to prepare (August 12 against Atalanta Bergamo) and I do not know how the Parisians plan to approach it. We are going to play a classic friendly match, with the objective of developing the collective. This is what matters most to us and so much the better if he is such an opponent.
Do you plan to be careful not to hurt the Parisian players?
I don't want to think about it. It's a football game, even a friendly one, and there is contact. We remain players, it is sometimes hard to control yourself in the middle of the action. We all know the risks but I just think we have to play normally. Everything will be fine.
What did you think of the recent performances of PSG, in particular against Saint-Etienne (1-0), your former club, in the final of the Coupe de France?
I cannot express myself too much on the physical condition of Parisians. I especially saw that Sainté had made a good match despite the expulsion of Perrin. They were well in place defensively against great offensive assets, it is never easy. And I saw that they had regrets at the end, so that says it all about their performance.
You grew up in the Paris region, do you have a particular affection for PSG, which will play the final tournament of the Champions League?
They have the manpower to go far in any case. But when I was young, I supported OM. The dad was for Marseille so I was watching this club because of my dad.
