Jose Mourinho revealed Paul Pogba was furious with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny for his role in the red card that rules the Manchester United midfielder out of next weekend’s summit meeting with Manchester City.
Pogba was sent off in the 74th minute of United’s 3-1 win at Arsenal on Saturday for a crude challenge on Hector Bellerin.
Koscielny responded to the foul by approaching referee Andre Marriner and appearing to call for Pogba’s dismissal.
Pogba sarcastically applauded Marriner as he headed for the tunnel and United boss Mourinho made it clear the France star wasn’t happy with the decision or his international team-mate’s part in it.
“I just know that Paul is frustrated. A bit disappointed with this colleague, Koscielny, with this kind of reaction,” Mourinho said.
“He is very frustrated because everybody knows that Paul is a clean player and it was not his intention at all to be close to a red card.”
As well as his anger at Pogba’s treatment, Mourinho was frustrated at what he saw as Arsenal diving in the closing stages.
Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette, appealed in vain for penalties and, with his tongue firmly in his cheek, Mourinho said: “I know the pitch is amazing and maybe breeds a desire to go to the floor.
“If it was hard, no; if it was mud, no – the pitch is absolutely beautiful but I think they were a bit too much.
“If it’s not a penalty, it’s not a penalty.”
Pogba’s dismissal will earn him a three-match ban and his absence from the Manchester derby is a huge blow to United’s hopes of closing the gap on the leaders.
City are five points ahead of United, but can extend that lead to eight if they beat lowly West Ham on Sunday.
Regardless of that result, United will remain in the title hunt when their hated neighbours arrive at Old Trafford next weekend.
But Mourinho refused to label the seismic showdown as a make or break moment in the title race.
Asked if United’s fourth successive league win had sent a message to Pep Guardiola’s team, he said: “No message. We go match after match.
“We are second in the table. We won four consecutive matches.
“We managed to win and play well. I’m happy but there is no message.”
