RAFA BENITEZ reckons Paul Pogba still has a long way to before he can be compared with the footballing greats.
After United’s returning hero marked his comeback with a goal and an assist, Benitez was quizzed as to how he rated alongside Steven Gerrard.
The Spaniard, of course, managed Gerrard during a Liverpool reign which included the most remarkable and unlikeliest of Champions League triumphs.
And he thinks Pogba needs to produce for far longer before the two can be spoken of in the same breath.
Benitez said: “They are different.
“Stevie was a top-class player for so many years. He was very consistent and could make the difference in every game, with or without the ball. He was a top-class player.
“Pogba is a great player, but he still has to be consistent for years like Stevie was for ten or 15 years.”
Benitez’ main concern is getting Newcastle back on an even keel after three straight defeats, for all they caused United massive problems for half an hour.
And he is totally realistic about what Toon fans should expect this season. He added: “The ambition is to stay up and try to be as high as possible. But the main thing is to stay up.”
TONE IT UP Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard dance about semi-naked
Without the cash of the big guns that will always be a big ask. And you sense a fresh row over funds with Mike Ashley may only be a month or so away again.
Benitez insisted: “It is very hard to get away from the money situation.
“For a newly-promoted team like us, it is always going to be difficult because we haven’t had the same level of money for the last couple of years. That is a massive thing.”
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