Bastian Schweinsteiger claims former Manchester United star was better than Andrea Pirlo

Bastian Schweinsteiger recently picked former Manchester United star Paul Pogba over Andrea Pirlo. He believes the Frenchman was better than the Italian great.

Schweinsteiger spent two seasons with the Red Devils between 2015 and 2017 after joining from Bayern Munich. He made 35 appearances for them, registering two goals and two assists. He, however, shared the pitch just once with Pogba.

In a recent interview with Give Me Sport, Schweinsteiger was asked to pick between midfielders. He picked Pogba over himself and the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Roy Keane. He then also picked him over Andrea Pirlo, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

Pogba had multiple stints at Manchester United and Juventus. For the Red Devils, he recorded 233 goals, scoring 39 goals and providing 51 assists. He was widely regarded as one of the best midfielders at his peak. However, injuries and other issues saw him leave Old Trafford in 2022. Pogba is currently a free agent after leaving Juventus in 2024.

Schweinsteiger, meanwhile, picked Busquets over Pogba in the aforementioned interview. He ended up picking Zinedine Zidane as the greatest midfielder of all time.

Bastian Schweinsteiger backs Manchester United to win UEFA Europa League

The former German midfielder believes Manchester United can go all the way in the UEFA Europa League this season. He said that they are gaining momentum at the right time and hence, could win the competition.

Manchester United beat a 10-man Athletic Club 3-0 at San Mames in the first leg of the semi-final on May 1. After the game, Schweinsteiger said (via 3News):

“With Bruno Fernandes controlling the midfield and young players stepping up like Alejandro Garnacho, they’re building momentum. The match against Athletic impressed me a lot. After the red card, it boosted players’ momentum to play. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go all the way and lift the Europa League trophy. It’s about picking the form at the right time.”

Manchester United went on to hammer Athletic Club 4-1 at Old Trafford in the second leg on May 8, winning the tie 7-1 on aggregate. Mikel Jauregizar gave the visitors the lead in the 31st minute. However, Mason Mount (72', 90+1'), Casemiro (79'), and Rasmus Hojlund (85') completed the win for the hosts.

In the final, the Red Devils will face Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur at San Mames on May 21.

About the author

Aditya has been working as a European football journalist and editor for Sportskeeda for close to 3 years. He boasts a total experience of over 6 years, and always aims to inculcate proper context in his articles, making the most of his prior stints in writing and marketing across a number of different industries over the years. He has also played football at college level for 2 years.

A B.Tech. graduate, Aditya's journey as an ardent football fan began after watching the elegant maestro Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the final. He has been a fan of Tottenham Hotspur's front foot and creative football since 2008 and connect's with the club's underdog status.

Aditya, who is a Sportskeeda 'Long-form Editor of the Month' award winner, is a big admirer of Luka Modric's elegant and hard-working style of play. His favorite manager is Carlo Ancelotti because the Italian allows his players enough freedom in an age where micromanagement is the established norm.

Aditya feels Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala could replicate the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry due to their incredible collective potential. In his free time, he likes to read classical fiction, travel to places, and explore a variety of foods.

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Edited by Aditya Singh