Pogba returns in Monaco loss as PSG stay top in France

Paul Pogba marked his eagerly anticipated comeback to top-level football during Monaco's 4-1 defeat away to Rennes on Saturday, as Paris Saint-Germain maintained their lead at the summit of Ligue 1 with a victory against Le Havre.

The 32-year-old entered the pitch as a substitute towards the end of the match for Monaco, marking his initial outing in more than two years, following setbacks from injuries, a doping ban, and an extortion scheme where he served as the target.

"My football journey continues. We put in tremendous effort and endured over two years of waiting, and now it has come to pass. Thanks be to God," Pogba remarked.

The victor from the 2018 World Cup earned a heartfelt reception from the crowd at Roazhon Park upon his entry in the 85th minute, and once more following the conclusion.

"The sight of the audience rising to cheer deeply moved me. I truly had not anticipated such a response, so I extend my profound gratitude to every supporter present today who stood by me," Pogba expressed.

The ex-Manchester United playmaker tested positive for a banned substance in August 2023 following a Juventus fixture and received a four-year suspension, later shortened to 18 months.

Despite this, the Serie A club ended his deal in November of the previous year, cutting short a troubled return to Turin marred by fitness issues and further complications.

In 2024, his sibling Mathias received a three-year jail term, including two years on probation, for involvement in an attempt to blackmail Pogba for 13 million euros, equivalent to 15.3 million dollars, back in 2022.

However, an opportunity to revive his professional path emerged through Monaco, who opted to offer him a chance upon the expiry of his ban in March.

Monaco adopted a measured strategy in readying Pogba for matches, yet manager Sebastien Pocognoli opted to deploy the player when his side was already four goals down and reduced to 10 players.

Rennes netted through Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal and Mahdi Camara prior to Denis Zakaria's dismissal. Breel Embolo extended the advantage, and Ludovic Blas converted from the spot, with Monaco responding via Mika Biereth's goal shortly after Pogba's involvement.

"It feels wonderful, the re-emergence of Paul Pogba, yet I represent Monaco, my squad, and I detest defeats," Pogba noted.

"Relief washes over me at returning to the sport I cherish above all.

"Nevertheless, further effort lies ahead to regain peak condition, complete full games, and contribute maximally to the group," he continued.

PSG secured a comfortable 3-0 home triumph over Le Havre, thanks to strikes from Lee Kang-in, Joao Neves, and Bradley Barcola.

Under Luis Enrique, the team regained pole position and their two-point margin after briefly slipping behind Marseille and Lens, the latter securing a 1-0 success against Strasbourg earlier that day.

Ismaelo Ganiou claimed the decisive goal for Lens during the latter stages of the second period, before Strasbourg's Valentin Barco earned a red card. Lens also ended a man light as Morgan Guilavogui was ejected in added time.

Marseille dominated Nice with a 5-1 scoreline on Friday, where Mason Greenwood netted a brace to lead the scoring charts with 10 tallies.