As Monaco have left midfielder Paul Pogba out of their squad for the UEFA Champions League knockout round play-off, ruling the French star out of the highly anticipated tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
The club confirmed the decision as part of changes made to their European squad ahead of the decisive phase of the competition. Pogba, who was included in Monaco’s list for the first half of the Champions League campaign, is one of three players omitted from the updated squad.
Alongside Pogba, Monaco also dropped defender Mohammed Salisu and Japanese international Takumi Minamino. In their place, the Ligue 1 side registered Krepin Diatta, Wout Faes and Simon Adingra for the knockout stages.
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The exclusion means Pogba will play no part in Monaco’s European showdown with domestic rivals PSG, a fixture that had raised interest due to the midfielder’s high profile and past experience at the top level of European football.
Pogba’s omission follows a limited contribution since his return to competitive action. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder has made just three appearances for Monaco this season, all of them in Ligue 1. He has yet to feature in the Champions League despite being named in the squad earlier in the campaign.
During the group-stage matches against Pafos and Galatasaray, Pogba remained an unused substitute, underlining his peripheral role in Monaco’s European plans. His absence from the revised list appears to reflect both his lack of match fitness and the coaching staff’s tactical priorities as the competition intensifies.
Monaco’s decision to reinforce the squad with Diatta, Faes and Adingra suggests a focus on greater depth and versatility ahead of the demanding knockout fixtures. The additions are expected to strengthen the team across defence and attack as they prepare for the challenge posed by PSG.
The Champions League play-off tie offers Monaco a chance to progress further in Europe, but it will do so without one of the most recognisable names in their squad. For Pogba, the omission represents another setback in a season that has so far been defined by limited opportunities and restricted game time.
Monaco are yet to announce their starting line-up for the first leg against PSG, as attention now turns to how the reshaped squad will fare in one of the most keenly watched ties of the knockout round.
