Mourinho explains Pogba substitution; critical of Man Utd man

Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba’s yellow card was influential in his substitution against West Brom on Sunday before aiming a dig at the Man Utd man.

Manchester United were shocked on Sunday as the Baggies won 1-0 at Old Trafford – a result that confirmed Manchester City as Premier League champions.

It was an ineffective performance from United and Pogba, who had inspired the brilliant 3-2 comeback victory against City last weekend.

The Frenchman was hauled off by Mourinho before the hour mark, making way for Anthony Martial, with West Brom scoring their winner 15 minutes later.

Mourinho explained both that decision and the call to replace Ander Herrera with Jesse Lingard at half-time.

“In the first half I felt I had to bring one player with more dynamism and a player that runs more and has more touches of the ball,” Mourinho said.

“I had to make a decision: one midfield player out to bring in Jesse Lingard. After that I wanted more width, and Paul had a yellow card and before that he had a situation not for a second yellow but you never know in football, so I reacted to that.

“And Paul’s game was complicated like many others, always one more touch.”

 

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