France football team captain Hugo Lloris believes Paul Pogba's slow start in the new season can be put down to his exertions at last summer's European championship.
"There are a lot of players who played in the European Championship and are experiencing physical difficulties at this moment," the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper told media ahead of France's visit to the Netherlands for a 2018 World Cup qualifier on Monday.
"Their preparation was not ideal for the new season. Paul is one of them. And he has to take on a record transfer to Manchester United," he said.
As the world's most expensive player, the 23-year-old Pogba offered only one goal and zero assist in eight appearances in the English Premier League (EPL) new season.
The former Juventus midfielder, who helped France to the final of the European Championship on home soil, returned to Manchester United for a record total fee of $124.14 million (100 million pounds).
Lloris, however, has faith in the box-to-box midfielder and believes he will soon improve, reports Xinhua.
"I can understand the high expectations around him," said Lloris. "There are also expectations from the dressing room, from the staff and the coach."
"But France is a team and not only one player. We have to be complementary to get the best performance".
"Paul has everything to be a great player but we always ask him to back that up. He can show it in a big game," he added.
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