Paul Pogba proves how Didier Deschamps could rise to the occasion as Man Utd manager

According to Sky Sports, The Daily Mirror suggested that Didier Deschamps has no desire to become the next Manchester United manager if Michael Carrick is sacked. The World Cup-winning coach has first-hand experience of managing at club level after working at the likes of Juventus, Monaco and Marseille.

Paul Pogba played an instrumental role under Deschamps in France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018 and shared a formidable partnership with N’Golo Kante. The 33-year-old French midfielder, who is now a free agent, knew all too well what made Deschamps ‘tick’ as an elite football coach.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Parisien, Paul Pogba highlighted the strengths of the former France manager, including how he managed big personalities, nurtured up-and-coming talents and how he put his message across to players.

“He has something that few coaches have. He was a great player, a captain,” he said in 2018.

“He knows the players, he knows how to talk to them. He knows how to get his message across.

“The players have grown up; they’re not the same age anymore. He sees us maturing. The coach gives us a bit more freedom, talks to us differently.

“He does it very well. He knows we’re more mature and that there’s no longer a need to speak in the same way.”

Deschamps was able to handle a wide variety of ‘egos’ and personalities during his time in charge of France, including the likes of Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. Considering the past implosions of the France national team, including at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Les Bleus were united under Deschamps’ leadership.

Deschamps was the figurehead of the France national team and his 14-year tenure with the national team saw much-needed stability for Les Bleus’ tournament progression. By reeling in different players and showing his authority was of the utmost importance, France were able to become a well-oiled machine for international matches without carrying any major off-the-pitch drama around them.

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While Deschamps has reportedly ruled out a move to United, the signs are there that Ineos should pursue him ahead of the likes of Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann or Unai Emery. Deschamps could foster an environment at Old Trafford that would handle big personalities, including Lisandro Martinez.

Deschamps’ reputation with players extends beyond Pogba’s incredible praise for his management. Kylian Mbappe, who became France captain under Deschamps in 2023 after Hugo Lloris, showed that the fourth-place finish at last summer’s World Cup was more representative of the France players rather than ‘Dede.’

“Today is your last dance,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, back in July.

“You have given us so much. We should have offered you a better ending, but we failed. Putting into words what you have brought for 14 years is very difficult, as you have been a major player in the revival of this team. People have not always appreciated your greatness, but time and history will.”

There were question marks around Deschamps handing the captain’s armband to Mbappe due to the Real Madrid superstar’s personality. However, Deschamps rolled the dice with 27-year-old French forward and Mbappe’s personality and ego rose to the occasion for France. Deschamps also had strong personalities in the France leadership, including Antoine Griezmann as the vice-captain.

Despite the Griezmann and Mbappe combination in key leadership positions, Deschamps’ management ensured France didn’t run into any major drama. The same couldn’t be said for Michael Carrick with Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez after both senior Man Utd figures spoke out in bombshell post-match interviews in October.

If Deschamps’ silverware achievement with France and elite managerial record were not enough, then his command over ‘big personalities’ shows that he could weather the storm at Old Trafford. He could easily step into the role as the eighth Man Utd manager in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson if he ended his free agent status tomorrow.