Grumpy Makélélé bemoans Pogba dancing celebrations

Former France and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makélélé says that Manchester United star Paul Pogba dancing to celebrate goals is disrespectful to opponents.

Pogba has found form under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and as is his custom he has celebrated his four goals with his trademark dance moves.

Former manager Jose Mourinho appeared hell bent on cutting such elements out of Pogba’s game but since the Portuguese was fired in the wake of a 3-1 loss to top-of-the-table Liverpool, the Frenchman appears free to express himself once again.

Dancing celebrations in football are not uncommon, particularly in South America and Africa but Makélélé has taken exception to Pogba cutting up a rug after knocking one into the back of the net.

Makélélé would like to see Pogba adopt a celebration style more like that of former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry.

“One example is Thierry Henry,” Makélélé told Astro SuperSport. “When he scored a goal before, so many goals, he’s never happy.

“One day I ask Thierry, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘It’s the way I celebrate my goal. I know people don’t like this, but I’m like this. I can’t change this.”

Makélélé feels that dancing after scoring is adding insult to injury and shows a lack of respect for your opponent.

He added: “For me, it means sometimes you don’t respect your opponent, you know?

“It’s frustrating. I’m fronting Pogba. If I was a player I would want to tell him, ‘Listen, do this in the dressing room, not now. It’s frustrating. You win 4-0, you’re dancing in front of me.’”

In the past Makélélé has taken issue with players who have taken to dancing celebrations such as Ronaldinho, the grumpy midfielder admits to taking a number of players on over the practice.

“I have a lot of history, not just Ronaldinho,” added the 45-year-old.

“It’s football – sometimes you need to explain to the player in front of you, give a little bit of respect, also.”