United: No appeal over Pogba red card
● Midfielder faces CSKA but club accept three-match ban for dismissal against Arsenal
MAN UTD V CSKA MOSCOW
The France midfielder was dismissed at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday and is set to serve a three-game domestic ban.
It is understood United have not contested the dismissal and that the FA will not impose an additional punishment after Pogba appeared to respond to the red card with a sarcastic clap.
That means the midfielder will take the field in United’s final Champions League group game, in which the possibility of equalling a club record of 40 successive home games without defeat is arguably the most important prize at stake.
Officially, one point is needed to assure top spot and qualification, but only an extreme contrivance of results and goal difference would keep them out of the last 16.
“He plays tomorrow,” said manager Jose Mourinho. “He’s very happy to play and try to keep his momentum because since he was back from his injury he’s been phenomenal.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, on the other hand, is being treated with kid gloves ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash against Manchester City.
The Swede has made four substitute appearances since his earlier-than-expected return from knee ligament damage, but was absent from the squad when United defeated Arsenal on Saturday.
Mourinho confirmed it was a conditioning issue rather than a fresh injury which kept the striker out at the Emirates and he will give Ibrahimovic every chance of being ready to face Pep Guardiola and company. Basel coach Raphael Wicky refuses to be distracted by his side’s 5-0 home win over Benfica in September when the sides meet again in Lisbon tonight.
Wicky knows that if his team win, and CSKA beat Manchester United, there
“Zlatan is not injured. He will be out again for tomorrow, but I believe he will be back to normal work after CSKA,” said Mourinho. “Zlatan needs some time of very hard work on the muscular area that supports the knee that had the problem. When the time for that hard work comes, the fatigue comes. To work really will be a three-way tie at the top of their group, but Basel would qualify if they better CSKA’S result.
However, he warns: “We were surprised with the result in Basel and are also surprised that Benfica still have zero points after five matches. No one expected it. This is not a reflection of what Benfica is, so we know hard for a certain period of time, he cannot play these days. He is on his cycle of work divided between the gym and the pitch.”
Luke Shaw will also return to the matchday squad for the CSKA match. The England international has been restricted to just 48 minutes this season amid rumours well that it won’t be an easy match as they have lots of quality.
“It makes no sense comparing the two games. On that night in Basel, everything went perfect for us and I don’t expect the same thing to happen twice. We have to focus on our match because we know it will be a different one.” he is on his way out of Old Trafford, but could make a rare European outing this week.
“I have to think. I am going to make a few, but not too many, changes,” Mourinho added.
“We didn’t qualify yet, we didn’t finish first in the group yet, there are other clubs also involved in qualification and I need to keep a certain balance in the team. But when we speak aboutlukeshaw,he’sworking to have an opportunity and sooner or later that opportunity will arrive because he deserves that opportunity.
“He is selected for tomorrow for sure… to start or be on the bench, I cannot answer.”
There will definitely be a change in goal, with David de Gea rested in favour of Sergio Romero and Joel Pereira on the bench. De Gea is turning in another superb season for United but Mourinho offered a 0 Jose Mourinho: Playful. playfulresponsewhenaskedif he had seen a better goalkeeper this year.
“Yes. Romero,” he said. “Because he plays tomorrow. My goalkeeper is always the best goalkeeper in the world. Now David is third best. Romero is number one and Joel number two. David is third best.”