# “I Should Have Done More…” Paul Pogba Gets Honest About Man Utd, Pressure & His Family

An episode of [Rio Ferdinand Presents](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1638148943), 21 Apr 2026, 1 h 11 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/62e90af8d40557001270a30e/e/69e7ebc66e5b90839a297c89/media.mp3

This is Paul Pogba like you’ve never seen him before. In one of his most open and honest conversations, Pogba sits down with Rio Ferdinand to talk through the moments that defined his career and the personal struggles that shaped the person behind the player. From growing up at Manchester United’s academy alongside (and fighting) Ravel Morrison, to learning from legends like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio himself, Pogba reveals what it really took to survive in one of football’s most demanding environments - and why he felt he had to leave when he did. He opens up on the reality of his second spell at Manchester United, the pressure of his world-record transfer fee, the lack of clarity or plan for his role in the team, and why he believes the environment at the club made it difficult to succeed. Pogba reveals that he did not know who Graeme Souness was until Rio gave him some detail on his career and achievements within the game which prompts a fascinating discussion about how he felt the media misunderstood him. But this conversation goes far deeper than football. Pogba speaks candidly about family issues, betrayal, and the emotional toll it took on him and those closest to him - including the impact it had on his mother. He also reflects on his time away from the game, the challenges of being out of football, and what it’s been like watching from the sidelines with his children asking when he’ll return. There are also powerful insights into his career highs — winning the World Cup with France, his relationship with stars such as Kylian Mbappé and how players like Andrea Pirlo, N’Golo Kanté and Antonio Conte helped elevate his game to another level. Plus: Why consistency of position is everything at the elite level His honest thoughts on Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay and modern midfield roles The truth about his relationship with José Mourinho And why he will never change who he is This is a rare, unfiltered look at one of football’s most talked-about players - in his own words. 📚 Chapters 00:00 Rio Meets Paul Pogba 03:34 Learning English Football 08:11 First Team: Learning from Pros 12:19 First Team Call-Up Delay ⏰ 16:20 Juventus: New Challenge 20:12 Pogba's Contract Situation 24:18 Best Midfield Partners Analysis 29:44 Synergy with Kylian Mbappé 33:17 Pogba's Best Man Utd Season 37:01 Bruno Fernandes: City Impact ️ 40:47 Football: My Life, My Joy 45:29 Mourinho's Training Methods 49:03 Managerial Changes at United 53:47 Scott McTominay's Success Story 59:36 True Friends in Adversity 01:03:25 Varane: Defensive Pillar ️ 01:07:27 Karim Benzema: Striker Analysis Subscribe: http://bit.ly/15QO9WE Rio Ferdinand Presents: rioferdinandpresents.com Rio Ferdinand Presents Instagram: https://instagram.com/rioferdinandpresents Rio Ferdinand Presents Twitter/X: https://x.com/RioMeets Rio Ferdinand Presents Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rioferdinandpresents Rio Ferdinand Presents TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rioferdinandpresents Rio Ferdinand Presents Threads: https://www.threads.net/@rioferdinandpresents Rio Ferdinand Instagram: https://instagram.com/rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand Twitter/X: https://x.com/rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RioFerdinandOfficial Rio Ferdinand TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand Threads: https://www.threads.net/@rioferdy5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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