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HomeSportsFootballJose Mourinho explains why Paul Pogba was substituted against Newcastle

Jose Mourinho explains why Paul Pogba was substituted against Newcastle

Jose Mourinho said Paul Pogba was not injured in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat by Newcastle, but did appear to blame him for the winning goal.

Pogba produced a below-par display against the Magpies after appearing to tweak something in the pre-match warm-ups.

He played 66 minutes of the match, coming off shortly after Matt Ritchie’s winner, with United boss Mourinho saying it was a tactical decision rather than anything else.

“No problems,” said Mourinho when asked if Pogba had an injury. “I wanted a better way to come out in the first phase against a team that was defending in a very compact block.

“I was trying that with the simplicity of Michael Carrick because he tries to make everything simple and bring Alexis [Sanchez] close to an area to [Romelu] Lukaku where he could be like a second striker to try to win the game.”

Pogba did not jump to challenge for the free-kick from which Newcastle scored, with Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Neville saying “that sums up his day – he’s not been right and he just didn’t jump”.

Asked about the goal, Mourinho said: “We train, we work, we organise… and the players have their individual jobs when they defend zonal. The players know there are responsibilities but I am pretty sure you already watch that goal on TV a few times, I didn’t.

“So you know more than me and you know who lost the challenge in the air, you know clearly that so I think it is bad if you put me in a position where I have to criticise a player. By yourself you make your own analysis.”

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