Passed by ASSE from 2012 to 2018, Florentin Pogba played around a hundred matches in the green tunic. Now a starter in the Belgian third division at RE Virton, the 34-year-old defender looked back on his time at ASSE on Unifoot TV.
Surprise signing at ASSE
Trained at Celta Vigo then at CS Sedan Ardennes in Ligue 2, Florentin Pogba joined ASSE in the final moments of the transfer window, on September 4, 2012.
Florentin Pogba tells the story of his signing at ASSE : “On September 4, 2012, my agent called me and told me that he didn't yet know where I was going. Either at Marseille Saint-Charles station or at Saint-Étienne Châteaucreux. At the time, I didn't know that Saint-Étienne had experienced such an epic event (editor's note: 1970s), but nothing more. But the name Marseille no longer spoke to me. But with the pressure, I knew it was a bigger club, my first choice was Saint-Etienne.
I'm at the station. I wait maybe an hour. It's long. But I tell myself that I am in Ligue 1. He calls me and informs me that I have to take the next one for Saint-Étienne. But, at any moment, we don't want you anymore. Until you arrive, you haven't signed. (…) I sign and they leave me the year 2012-2013, in Ligue 2, with Sedan.”
“I was going to sign for Sevilla, for AC Milan”
Florentin Pogba : “I always said to myself, deep down: “I know that I can go higher.” By my qualities, by the qualities that I have been able to see in very high level players. The coaches who gave it to me also said. But I had big injuries at that time. In big clubs, you can't get injured, otherwise you're quickly boycotted.
-Unfortunately, I had injuries at key moments. I was going to sign for Seville, for AC Milan. I had touches of a big club, of the Champions League. In fact, it takes a toll on you, but I knew I had the level. I told myself that if Paul could, I could. It was a source of motivation, why him and not me? (…) My goal was to play the World Cup, the Champions League matches.”
“A derby? We had to win this match”
Florentin Pogba : “Derbies? There is a mentality which demands to always do more, to always be aggressive on the pitch. When I went to the city of Lyon, I came across players with whom I normally chatted. But as soon as we return on the ground, the attitude was changing. It seemed like they didn't know you. I wondered why they were behaving this way.
I didn't get into that game. When we had to play against Lyon, I knew it was an uncontrollable determination. You give everything, even if we are bad at the game. We had to win this match. (…) If I have to ride you, I'll ride you. But behind that, we're going to talk to each other normally.”
