Pogba played 57 minutes at the Stade Saint-Symphorien before being replaced — a return that represented a milestone in a journey that began with a four-year doping ban in 2023, reduced to 18 months on appeal, and has since been complicated by a succession of physical setbacks since joining Monaco on a two-year contract last summer. He has managed only six appearances totalling 115 minutes across the entire campaign.
The 33-year-old midfielder had spoken candidly about the mental toll in an interview with Ligue1+ conducted with his friend and former France international Adil Rami before the match.
"Honestly, there were times when I was like: that's it, it's getting on my nerves. I do everything, I come here, I'm here, and it doesn't stop, it just keeps going. I was thinking — what more do I have to do to avoid all this?"
He described the emptiness of training with no purpose in sight.
"You don't know how many times my wife said to me: go and train. But there are days when you have nothing, no call, you don't know where you are going to go — so you wonder why you are training. You ask yourself: am I going to come back? Am I going to play football again? Am I going to find a club? Am I going to find my level again? You really ask yourself a lot of questions."
What kept him going, he said, was the people around him and the messages that continued to arrive.
"My friends, my family and those close to me helped me. And there are also the fans — when I see the messages on social networks, the applause in stadiums now. So I can't stop there."
Despite the criticism that greeted his performance at the Stade de la Metz — French football commentator Maxime Chanot described him as no longer capable of top-level play — Pogba was clear about where he believes he is heading.
"Honestly, right now I feel very good. I passed a milestone and I felt it directly in training. The staff has been really good and gave me an XXL programme from the moment I arrived. Can I play 90 minutes? Yes, I think so — so why not?"
Monaco have two league games remaining, against Lille and Strasbourg. Pogba is also considering his future beyond playing, telling the same interview that he has thought about becoming a coach and may soon begin working towards the required qualifications.