Pogba’s angry at Koscielny after red card – Jose
Frenchman to miss Manchester derby after key win at Arsenal
London – Jose Mourinho revealed that Paul Pogba was furious with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny for his role in the red card that rules the Manchester United midfielder out of next weekend’s summit meeting with Manchester City.
Pogba was sent off in the 74th minute of United’s 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday for a crude challenge on Hector Bellerin.
Koscielny responded to the foul by approaching referee Andre Marriner and appearing to call for Pogba’s dismissal.
Pogba sarcastically applauded Marriner as he headed for the tunnel, and United boss Mourinho made it clear the France star wasn’t happy with the decision or his international teammate’s part in it. “I just know that Paul is frustrated. A bit disappointed with this colleague, Koscielny, with this kind of reaction.
“He is very frustrated because everybody knows that Paul is a clean player and it was not his intention at all to be close to a red card,” Mourinho said.
Mourinho was also frustrated at what he saw as Arsenal’s diving in the closing stages. Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette appealed in vain for penalties and, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, Mourinho said: “I know the pitch is amazing and maybe breeds a desire to go to the floor.”
Inevitably, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger saw the two penalty appeals differently to his old rival and he took a swipe at Marriner’s performance.
“Last night I watched Napoli v Juventus on TV and we watched a top-class referee. If you want to analyse well, watch the difference between them and us and then you will see,” Wenger said.
Antonio Valencia and Jesse Lingard punished terrible Arsenal defending to put United two up in 11 minutes.
Lacazette got one back but Lingard’s second sealed the points. –