Monaco’s flight to Bruges was cancelled on Wednesday, and the Ligue 1 outfit were forced to endure a sweat-drenched trip to Belgium, with Paul Pogba and his teammates stripping to their underwear
Paul Pogba ahead of AS Monaco’s pre-season friendly against Inter Milan (Image: Photo by Loris Roselli/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Paul Pogba’s journey to Bruges descended into chaos as AS Monaco players stripped down to their underwear after an air conditioning malfunction forced them to abandon their flight to their Champions League opener.
Adi Hutter’s squad were due to face Belgian outfit Club Brugge on Thursday. Nevertheless, a breakdown with the air conditioning system on their aircraft triggered frantic scenes on board.
Because of the sweltering heat, Monaco stars were compelled to remove their clothing and remain in nothing but their undergarments. Temperatures reached insufferable levels as the cabin transformed into a sauna whilst airborne.
Players were left soaked in perspiration and using their hands as fans in a bid to cool down. Netherlands international Jordan Teze retrieved his mobile phone and began filming the extraordinary scenes.
A clip posted on the 25-year-old’s Snapchat story revealed the Monaco team stripped down to their underwear. Several were subsequently spotted exiting the aircraft and standing on the tarmac semi-naked.
Ultimately, Monaco’s flight was scrapped, and the players headed back home. Hutter disclosed that the choice was made to stay put and make the trip to Bruges tomorrow.
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Despite this obstacle, the Monaco boss remains optimistic that his Monaco team can begin with a victory. He told reporters: “Unfortunately, we were unable to leave today.
“I don’t know if this setback will have an impact, as we are professional and immediately changed our schedule. We will therefore travel to Bruges tomorrow, which is the best possible solution, especially since we already did so for the match in Auxerre on Saturday by traveling the same day.
“For technical reasons, it was impossible to travel, as everyone’s safety was not guaranteed. That’s why we decided, in agreement with (CEO) Thiago Scuro, to postpone our trip.”
Whilst his team-mates endured their mid-air ordeal, Pogba faces a completely different type of waiting game. The French international, who joined Ligue 1 side Monaco on a two-year contract in the summer, remains without a debut for his new club as he works to regain match fitness and sharpness.
Prior to his switch to Monaco, the former Manchester United star had been without a club following the termination of his Juventus deal last November. He left the Italian giants despite successfully appealing his four-year doping suspension after being found guilty of taking the banned substance DHEA.
Pogba hasn’t featured competitively since September 2023, when he came off the bench during Juventus’s clash with Empoli. He had played just 12 times for the Old Lady after returning to the club from United on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.
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