Manchester United star Paul Pogba opens up about his Hector Bellerin stamp… claiming he would never hurt his pal on purpose
PAUL POGBA has opened his heart about the pain of missing Sunday’s derby and insists he never meant to stamp on Hector Bellerin.
The Manchester United record buy, 24, was red carded at the Emirates during the 3-1 win over Arsenal after he reached for a ball but landed on Bellerin’s calf.
It meant a three-match ban and crucially being sidelined for Sunday’s showdown with top of the table Manchester City at Old Trafford.
And Pogba said: “I'm very disappointed because I really want to help the team and wanted to be there for this derby because obviously we are playing City and in this moment we need points and we need to win.
"It's an important moment, an important game so, like I say, disappointed.
“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.
“Hector, I know him as well, and I would never give him a tackle like this. He was in a position that was a disadvantage for me so I done it.
“It looks very bad but the intention wasn't like that. The referee, got the red card and that's football.”
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Now Pogba will be watching from the stands at Old Trafford but fully confident his team can still do the job against high flying City and cut the gap between the pair at the top of the Premier League back to five points.
He said: “I have complete trust in the team. Even if I am not there, I will be there watching the game giving positive energy and hopefully we are going to win.
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“Manchester City against Manchester United has always been a big, big derby. One city, two clubs.
“It's going to be a big atmosphere in the stadium and a big game with a big team and big players so that's the game you want to play.
“To win these games you need to give everything.
"You need to be there offensively, defensively, kill the game when you have one chance because they are City and they have quality as well up front and they can kill the game at any time.
“We want to win, we need to win as well.”
Asked if he still believes they can catch City Pogba said: “If I don't believe I stop playing football now.”
Pogba set up the equalising goal in United's 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night.
The result confirmed their passage into the knockout stages of the Champions League as Group A winners.