Paul Pogba admits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was right to hook him off ahead of Europa League semi-finals as he claims Granada stars were ‘trying to get him sent off’
- Paul Pobga was replaced with Donny van de Beek during their Europa League tie
- Pogba admits boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was right to take him off at half-time
- The French international had received a yellow card and was at risk of another
- Pogba felt that the Granada players were deliberately trying to get him sent off
Paul Pogba admits Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was right to take him off at half-time against Granada.
The French international was awarded a yellow card in the first half of United’s Europa League clash on Thursday night and was removed from the game to avoid the risk of a potential suspension.
Pogba said it was an ‘unfortunate’ situation – having been given the captains armband for the game – but felt it was the right decision as the Granada players were ‘trying to get him out’.
Paul Pobga was replaced with Donny van de Beek during their Europa League tie on Thursday
Pogba admits boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was right to take him off at half-time (file photo)
Pogba – who was cautioned in the 17th minute of the game for an elbow on German Sanchez – felt the referee’s decision was wrong.
However, he agreed with Solskjaer’s decision to replace him with Donny van de Beek at half-time after he fouled Manchester City loanee Yangel Herrera.
Speaking of the decision, he told BT Sport: ‘There were some tackles, yellow cards, we had a bit of everything.
‘I had to come off. This yellow card was unfortunate.
‘For me it wasn’t a yellow card but you have to accept it. I think it was a foul against me.
‘I got a yellow card and we won the game and that is the most important thing.’
The French international had received a yellow card and was at risk of getting another
He felt that the Granada players were deliberately trying to get him sent off during the game
The 2018 World Cup winner felt that the Granada players had a hidden agenda following his yellow card.
He felt like his opponents were doing their best to get him removed from the game – which would in turn have seen him banned for United’s semi-final tie against Roma.
When asked if he thought Granada players were deliberately trying to get him sent off, Pogba said: ‘For sure.
‘The foul just after I saw all the players trying to get me out.
‘I think that’s when the manager saw it as well that it’s better I come off before I get a red card and I can put my team in difficulties.’
Solskjaer shared his thoughts after the game, saying: ‘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.’
