UEFA Nations League: Manchester United Midfielder Shines In France And Portugal Matchup

It was a clash between two Manchester United stars on Sunday as Paul Pogba’s France faced Bruno Fernandes’ Portugal in the UEFA Nations League. Despite the bout ending in a stalemate, Pogba was praised for his effort on the field.

After missing action for nearly a year due to injuries, Pogba has returned to the French team and stood out as one of the best players on the pitch for his club. Pogba has been one of the main leaders of Manchester United, and he displayed his maturity in the recent match.

"Very present, he wanted the ball. He put on his voice. He is a leader, and we felt it. After a year of absence, we felt him in the legs. But he was fine," fellow Frenchman Hugo Lloris told M6 of Pogba.

Pogba played the full 90 minutes and was tied with a game-high of three shot attempts, Goal reported.

"There was a high-quality opponent in front. In the second half, we played higher and there was a lot more activity," Lloris said.

"In the first half, there was a tendency to retreat, perhaps because of the fear. Afterwards, there was quality in the other side. Everyone had their period," he added.

Both teams were limited to a clean sheet as neither club was able to generate enough offense throughout the match.

"In the last 30 meters, we lacked sharpness. We would have preferred to win, but it’s a solid performance," Lloris continued.

Aside from the Manchester United stars, other big names were also on the field on Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe showed mutual respect for one another as top stars of the game.

Despite both teams having the games’ elite players, the match still ended in a draw.

"We can always do better, then there is the quality of the opponent too. They take precautions like us, with respect to the players opposite like Cristiano, who we didn't see too much tonight," France manager Didier Deschamps said after the match.

The next match for Pogba and the rest of France is on Wednesday as they go up against Croatia. As for Portugal, the team will suit up for a match against Sweden on the same day.