Analysing Paul Pogba's 2014/15 Contribution for Juventus

The name of Paul Pogba is never far from the headlines, with the Frenchman capturing the attention of the footballing world with his incredible talent and skill. Also possessing immense charisma, his evolution into one of the most complete midfielders in the game was discussed at length in this previous column.

He has scored incredible goals, dazzled us with skill and already begun to collect winner’s medals—three Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia and the FIFA Under-20 World Cup—at an incredible rate. Indeed, such is his impact that it remains jarring to think that a regular for both Juventus and France is still only 22 years old.

While it is easy to discuss such a player with superlatives and shower him with praise, it is also worthwhile analysing his contribution more closely; what exactly did Pogba deliver for Juventus in 2014/15?

It was a remarkable campaign for the Bianconeri, reaching the Champions League final while clinching a domestic double for only the third time in the club’s 118-year history. Clearly the most obvious impact Pogba made upon it came in the form of those goals, netting a career-high 10 in all competitions.

As the above graphic—courtesy of Squawka.com—shows, they were all long-range efforts, while all but two came via his right foot. Despite standing 6’2”, he did not score a single headed goal, but he has improved that aspect of his game considerably over the last 12 months.

According to statistics from that same source, Pogba won 63 percent of the aerial duels he contested in 2014/15, a superb figure for a midfield player. It was perhaps most evident in the Champions League semi-final, winning a header that set up Alvaro Morata’s crucial equalising goal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That was one of six assists Pogba registered this term, which is indicative of two factors that influenced his contribution to the campaign. Firstly, it was a continuation of his consistent passing, WhoScored.com showing that his completion percentage (83.8) was exactly the same as in the previous season, while making slightly more attempts (46.6 per game) this time around.

Secondly it showed his changing role under Massimiliano Allegri, with the coach’s shift away from the 3-5-2 formation moving Pogba into a deeper role. His assist tally fell from eight in 2013/14, but he worked much harder defensively, constantly shifting out wide to ensure the full-back behind him was not left isolated.

Averaging 2.2 tackles and 0.7 interceptions per game, his work rate—and indeed understanding with Patrice Evra—was notable during the Champions League final, the French duo working in harmony to quash the threat of Lionel Messi and Dani Alves.

While there is no denying the influence Antonio Conte had on Pogba, his successor also appears to enjoy a great relationship with the player, which the video above neatly showcases. Allegri clearly has a softer approach, but he has not been afraid to publicly challenge him, taking him to task after Juve’s 2-2 draw with Hellas Verona on the final day of the Serie A campaign.

“He’s very talented, but if he lowers the concentration levels then he can make technical errors,” the coach told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia). “This is part of his growth process and he should stop showboating in midfield.”

Pogba took the criticism well, showing his growing maturity when asked about Allegri’s comments just a few days later. “I take it as advice,” he told me (h/t Sport360), “but what the coach is saying is the truth so I have to keep that focus for 90 minutes." 

Allegri’s tactics have also allowed his players greater freedom to express themselves on the pitch, and Pogba has relished that opportunity. Blessed with incredible skill and a marvellous first touch, he is excellent on the ball, and his dribbling was markedly better last season, which figures from Squawka.com highlight perfectly.

In 2013/14, Pogba completed just 74-of-136 take-on attempts (54 percent), but he improved to 75-of-100 such tries this season. That shows he is not only successful on more occasions but also that he makes much better decisions over when to try beat a defender, tribute to his increased awareness of how best to influence a particular moment.

One area he can still improve is his penchant for conceding cheap fouls, making a team-high 2.3 infringements per game, according to WhoScored.com. It is perhaps the one remaining flaw in the play of a midfielder who Juventus supporters will hope chooses to remain with them for at least one more season.

Able to win matches single-handedly, Pogba has also become a much more effective member of the team, taking on board the criticisms of him and working hard on almost every facet of his game visibly over the past year.