Manchester United were strong on Granada on Thursday night as their display in both legs earned them a 4-0 on aggregate win, thanks to a 2-0 win at Old Trafford in the second leg. However, the game saw Paul Pogba substitution at halftime, something of a rare occurrence.
Paul Pogba admits he had little choice but to come off at half-time during Manchester United’s win over Granada on.
The Frenchman Paul Pogba captained Red Devils for the first time in over two years with the absence of the suspended Harry Maguire but was taken off at half-time over concerns of being sent off.
Paul Pogba admits he had little choice but to come off at half-time in a 2-0 win over Granada.
Pogba was harshly booked in the first half for a perceived foul with him finding himself in trouble after Granada players pressured the referee to send him off for a second bookable offense.
A red card would have ensured that the Frenchman would have been ruled out of the first-leg semi-final game against Roma later this month. Pogba admits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had no choice but to bring him off at the break.
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Speaking to BT Sport, Pogba said:
“I had to come off, but I know that if I come off the other players who come in they will make the difference as well.
“So this yellow card was unfortunate. For me it wasn’t a yellow card and I’m sure for a lot of people. But you’ve got to accept it. I think it was a foul against me, but we won that is the most important thing.”
Asked whether he felt that Granada players could try to make him sent off if he was to stay on the pitch come the second half, Pogba said:
“For sure. I know the foul just after it I saw all the players were trying to get me out. That is when the manager saw it as well that it is better if I come off before I get the red card and I could put my team in difficulties.”
Giving his take on the situation, Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar said:
“Sometimes, Paul wants to win so much.
“He went into a couple of tackles after his yellow card but I thought I don’t want to risk that [him being sent off] even though he played so well. We missed three today [through suspension]. The season has been hard enough as it is.”
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