Koke and Pogba Lead the Next Generation of Midfield Greats
Paul Pogba was thoughtful yet optimistic following his Juventus side's 3-2 win over Olympiakos on Tuesday.
"Unfortunately we missed a penalty that would have taken us ahead of Olympiakos [on head-to-head record] but overall our performance was good," he told UEFA.com. "We have to take the positives and we know what we have to do in the future."
Whatever Juventus accomplish in this season's Champions League will no doubt have more than a thing or two to do with Pogba, who scored the winner against the Bianconeri's Group A opponents in Turin.
Given Andrea Pirlo's increasingly reduced role at the clubโalthough the Italy icon opened the scoring against the Greeks with a spectacular free-kickโthe 21-year-old will only continue to rise in prominence at Juventus, who recently rewarded the midfielder with a new, five-year contract.
About 600 miles to the southwest, Atletico Madrid have their own up-and-coming midfielder under wraps until 2019.
Spurning the advances of Barcelona and Manchester United, both of whom had been linked to the player by the Daily Mail, Los Colchoneros inked Koke to a new pact in the summer and have been reaping the benefits of their investment ever since.
The 22-year-old also notched a game-winning tally on Tuesday, his flicked finish turning Juanfran's cross beyond the reach of Malmo goalkeeper Robin Olsen in Sweden. The heroics came just two weeks after a mesmerising display against the same opponents in Madrid that saw the Spain international score once and assist on three additional goals in a lopsided 5-0 win.
"[My goal] was a beautiful move," he told UEFA.com following the match at Swedbank Stadion. "We know that Juanfran likes to bomb forward; he's nearly a winger although his position is full-back. I know that well, and I know where to position myself and just had to put my foot in the right position to score."
It's not often that Koke has found himself in the wrong position this season.
His seven assists have him joint top of the category with Lionel Messi in La Liga, and according to Squawka, he has created a total of 26 goal-scoring opportunities in 10 matches. Additionally, his eight interceptions have shown him to be the intelligent midfielder hailed by manager Diego Simeone last April as Atletico were rounding out a title-winning campaign.
"Koke is an extremely important player for usโfor the way he plays, for the way he interprets tactics," El Cholo explained to Sky Sports. "He has developed a great deal and today he is one of the best players in La Liga."
The same could well be said regarding Pogba's status in Serie A.
Already a two-time Scudetto winner, the France international has been integral to Juventus' bid for yet another Italian title, and his natural competitiveness has seen him become a leader by example at a club with no shortage of experienced players.
Pogba rarely comes out on the losing end of a battle; according to Squawka, he has won 60 per cent of his tackles this term, 70 per cent of his take-ons and two-thirds of his headed duels.
No wonder new Bianconeri manager Massimiliano Allegri is in awe of the former Manchester United midfielder.
"He is one of the best young players in the world, with enormous technical and physical qualities," Allegri remarked back in August, as per the Daily Mail.
His opinion of Pogba will have only grown since then; ditto Simeone's of Koke.
Both players are not only at the forefront of the next generation of midfield greats but among the elites of the current one as well.
