Mourinho ‘frustrated’ on red and says Koscielny deserved one
JOSE MOURINHO expressed his and Paul Pogba’s frustration after the midfielder was sent off for a two-footed stamp on Hector Bellerin.
The automatic three-match ban will rule him out of the Manchester derby. And it could get worse for the Frenchman after he sarcastically applauded referee Andre Marriner for his decision to show him the red card.
Asked for his reaction, Mourinho said: ‘I was not even looking in that direction. I just know Paul is frustrated. A bit disappointed with his colleague (Laurent) Koscielny, with this kind of reaction.
‘Paul is very frustrated because everyone knows he is a clean player and it is not his intention to be close to a red card.’
It had been a perfect day for the midfielder prior to his sending-off.
He played a lovely one-two with Antonio Valencia to set up the opening goal. And his contribution for the third made the experienced Koscielny look like a youngster playing his first game. Pogba muscled aside his compatriot before teeing up Jesse Lingard with a perfect cross.
His tackle on Bellerin — coming down hard on the defender’s calf with his right foot before landing his left on Bellerin’s ankle — could yet cost United dearly. Given his
side’s mixed form during his absence through injury, for the 24-year-old to miss their most important game of the season so far could come as a hammer blow for United.
City can restore their eight-point lead at the top with victory against West Ham today.
The Portuguese hinted that Arsenal’s players had gone down too easily under challenges, and suggested Koscielny also deserved a red card for a foul on Romelu Lukaku towards the end of the match.
The defender took out Lukaku when he was clean through. Despite a lack of defensive cover, the referee only showed Koscielny a yellow card. ‘I’ll leave the Lukaku situation with Koscielny for you too and the Arsenal players on the grass,’ Mourinho said. ‘Again, (for) the referee, to analyse. Maybe from the bench I have a different perspective, maybe it is my emotion for the desire of a red card. But Marriner was in charge.’
Arsenal felt they should have had a spot-kick for a series of challenges and possible handballs in the area but Mourinho continued: ‘If it is not a penalty, it is not a penalty. I know the pitch is amazing and maybe creates a desire to go to the floor.
‘If it was hard, no, or mud, no, but it was absolutely beautiful. I think they went (down) a little bit too much.’
And referring to Alexandre Lacazette, who went down injured in the opening exchanges before recovering, he added: ‘Arsenal’s medical department managed to turn a player from a no to a complete 90 minutes.’
Mourinho also hailed David de Gea as the best goalkeeper in the world for his Premier League record 14 saves, the pick of which was a double save to deny Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez.
Mourinho said: ‘I told him what I saw today was the best goalkeeper in the world. (In) big matches goalkeepers have to be there for you.’