Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been quick to defend his former teammate Paul Pogba, and has stated that people are jealous of the French international.
Pogba came in for some criticism in the aftermath of France's below-par performance in their 2-1 World Cup win over Australia earlier this afternoon, but Ibrahimovic was quick to point the finger at Pogba's teammates and their performances rather than Pogba's display in the middle of the park.
Ibrahimovic, who is working as a pundit at this year's tournament, said the media target Pogba for financial reasons. The former Swedish international said: "I don't read a lot of media, but when I do see a lot of critics against him, but obviously when you make as much money as he does, people will criticise you."
Pogba, who netted France's winner in the closing minutes of their Group D match, didn't set the world alight in today's clash, but Ibrahimovic pointed out that Pogba is still a young player, and is still improving, and said that football fans need to look at the others on the pitch, and not aim all their vitriol at Pogba.
Ibrahimovic continued, "Obviously, expectations are high, as we know how good (Pogba) is, but he is improving, and he is very professional, and when I see all these critics it's all jealousy," added the striker.
Watch Zlatan Ibrahimovic give Paul Pogba his full backing following France's 2-1 World Cup Group D win over Australia on Saturday afternoon below after Pogba bagged the winning goal:
