Pogba’s ban saddens me – France coach, Didier Deschamp reacts

France’s national football team manager, Didier Deschamps, has expressed his sadness following Paul Pogba’s four-year doping ban on Thursday.

Pogba was given the sanction after testing positive for a banned substance in August of last year, having been suspended since 11th September.

The Juventus midfielder has denied the allegations and has stated that he will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

However, Deschamps believes Pogba didn’t intentionally use banned substances, stating that he knows the former Manchester United player well and that his situation has been extremely difficult over the last few months.

“I don’t believe for a minute that Pogba intended to or wanted to dope,” Deschamps said as quoted by L’Équipe.

“Just like the judgement announced by the Italian anti-doping tribunal on Thursday, what Paul has experienced these past months has been extremely difficult and I can’t be insensitive to his pain, given what he has done with the national team and the relationships that have been formed with the France national team.

“His situation saddens me and I really hope that things will work out.”