December 26, 2024

Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba could have been sent off for a stray elbow in ‘unlucky’ Tottenham’s chastening defeat by Manchester United – and takes a dig at VAR by admitting …

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Jose Mourinho believes Paul Pogba may have been lucky to escape a red card during Tottenham’s defeat by Manchester United – and once again savaged VAR. 

The home team’s Champions League hopes were left in tatters in north London with United mounting a second-half turnaround, spurred on by a disallowed goal.

But when questioned over the reasoning behind Scott McTominay being penalised, Mourinho instead turned his attention to the failure to punish Pogba instead. 

Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba may have been sent off in Spurs' defeat by Manchester United

Jose Mourinho says Paul Pogba may have been sent off in Spurs’ defeat by Manchester United

Pogba had tangled with Serge Aurier (left) in the early stages in London but was not punished

Pogba had tangled with Serge Aurier (left) in the early stages in London but was not punished

‘My opinion, it was a good game, my opinion, we didn’t deserve this result at all, but we lost against a very good team,’ said Mourinho.

‘We were unlucky because maybe Paul Pogba should get a red card from an elbow on Serge Aurier.

‘So maybe if we’re going to talk about VAR we have to go deeper.’

United saw a goal controversially ruled out in the first half after a foul from Scott McTominay

United saw a goal controversially ruled out in the first half after a foul from Scott McTominay

Edinson Cavani finished from Pogba's pass but was left shocked when the goal was disallowed

Edinson Cavani finished from Pogba’s pass but was left shocked when the goal was disallowed

Pogba caught Tottenham full back Aurier in the early stages of the fiery clash with a stray elbow but no retrospective action was taken against the United man.

The frustration quickly shifted to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, however, after Edinson Cavani’s neat finish was controversially chalked off. 

Heung-min Son collapsed to the turf, clutching his face, after being caught by a hand from McTominay and referee Chris Kavanagh was advised to check his monitor.

Having then viewed several replays of the incident, Cavani’s goal was ruled out.

Mourinho insisted he doesn't 'know anything anymore' after being quizzed on the decision

Mourinho insisted he doesn’t ‘know anything anymore’ after being quizzed on the decision

The latest string of divisive decisions from the technology even rendered Mourinho confused post-match.

He told Sky Sports: ‘I don’t know anything anymore, in football you don’t know anything any more.

‘It’s very difficult to analyse, even as a coach, many, many times I don’t know.

Cavani was on target late on with a header to edge United in front and pile the misery on Spurs

Cavani was on target late on with a header to edge United in front and pile the misery on Spurs

‘It’s difficult, you don’t celebrate as a goal because you are afraid.

‘Sometimes you see the lines they put on the pitch, not in this game, but then you don’t know very well if it is onside or offside.

‘It’s difficult, but to speak about that after a defeat, I don’t feel really comfortable.’

Mason Greenwood broke away deep inside stoppage time to round off the result with a third

Mason Greenwood broke away deep inside stoppage time to round off the result with a third

Son added insult to injury after slotting home at the far post to send the hosts into the interval narrowly ahead.

But Fred, Cavani and Mason Greenwood all found the target in a superb turnaround as United tightened their grip on second spot.

Tottenham, meanwhile, now find themselves six points adrift of the top four with pressure continuing to mount on the under-fire Mourinho. 

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