Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba breaks silence on his red card against Arsenal

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Paul Pogba has broken his silence on the red card that will prevent him from playing in Sunday’s Manchester derby.

The Manchester United midfielder will serve a three-match Premier League suspension after he was sent off in last weekend’s 3-1 win at Arsenal.

Pogba was shown red by referee Andre Marriner for a stamp on Hector Bellerin and after United’s win, he reacted on social media, simply posting: “No comment.”

The 24-year-old spoke about the incident publicly for the first time after United’s 2-1 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, however, and claimed there was no malice in his mistimed challenge.

“Yeah I didn't really speak after the game, I didn't have time, but I know Hector as well and I would never give him a tackle like this," Pogba said.

“Unfortunately, for me, I thought he would put his feet [there] and he was in a position that was a disadvantage for me so I’ve done it.

“It looks very bad but the intention wasn't like that. They had the decision, the referee got the red card and that's football.”

United decided not to lodge an appeal against Pogba’s suspension, meaning he will sit out of Sunday’s meeting with league leaders Manchester City, as well as forthcoming matches against Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion.

It is the derby that Pogba will be most disappointed to miss, however, as his team-mates seek to cut City’s eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

“I’m very disappointed because I really want to help the team and wanted to be there for this derby,” he said.

“We need points and we need to win. It's an important moment, an important game. The day is coming, Sunday is coming, so we will start getting ready for this. I think we are all playing football, to play those kind of games and unfortunately for me I won't play.

“That's destiny. I say destiny because I cannot go back in the past. You have to think about the future.”