Arsenal players and provides bizarre explanation for Paul Pogba red card; Jose Mourinho mock

Jose Mourinho took a thinly veiled dig at Arsenal stars who had a ‘desire to be on the grass’ in the wake of Paul Pogba‘s red card in Saturday’s pulsating Premier League clash. Manchester United recorded a vital 3-1 win that cut the gap at the top of the table, temporarily at least, to five points, but will be without their influential midfielder for the next three domestic matches, including the Manchester derby at Old Trafford next weekend. Pogba was given his marching orders 16 minutes from full time for a dangerous tackle on Hector Bellerin, who had gone to ground in an attempt to win the ball.

Frank Lampard on Paul Pogba red card 

‘He was very heated and I’m of the opinion that if a manager gives you a message in a game you accept it as a player,’ former Chelsea star Lampard told BT Sport. 

‘You can talk about it in the dressing room afterwards – you don’t need to throw arms as he does here. ‘Considering he got the red card a few minutes afterwards I think he got emotional I think he lost his head. 

‘It wasn’t a tackle he needed to make. You’re leading 3-1, you’re protecting a lead and you understand the importance of the game and I think it’s affected his approach to the tackle.

’ Arsenal were subsequently fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Laurent Koscielny hauled down Romelu Lukaku on the halfway line, preventing the Belgium international a clear run on goal. 

Mourinho refused to openly criticise referee Andre Marriner but attempted to make a joke at Bellerin and Koscielny’s expense claiming he would have been keen to go to ground because ‘the grass is so beautiful’.