Paul Pogba says United need to be smarter – and criticises referee

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Paul Pogba has called on Manchester United to be more streetwise after a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

United were disappointing and Pogba also held his hands up after giving away the penalty which led to Arsenal’s win.

Pogba told the club website he knows he should not have given away a foul in such a dangerous area.

Pogba said: “I put my hands up for this mistake, it shouldn’t happen. Of course the team has my back and everything but, for me personally, I’m just hating myself [for giving] away a penalty and losing the game 1-0 for a stupid mistake.”

Be smarter

There is some irony in Pogba’s potential solution for United being to make more fouls.

But that’s exactly what he says United need to do, expressing his frustration at Arsenal’s players going unpunished.

Pogba said: “The centre-backs kick us, they kick the strikers and everything.

“The referee didn’t give a foul but you have to work on this part and maybe be a bit more cheeky.

“We have to improve and learn from these mistakes today. It’s eating me obviously. We have to be better than that.“

United made 12 fouls in total which were called by the referee, picking up three yellow cards.

This was identical to Arsenal, who also made 12 fouls, with three yellow cards given by Mike Dean.

Pogba though is referring to the ‘fouls’ which were not awarded, and believes Mike Dean let too much go.

Gabriel got away with a foul in the second half which was not called, and could have led to a second yellow. With the game scoreless at this point, this would have changed everything.

Back to the drawing board

Pogba clearly isn’t happy with himself after his role in the defeat, but no United player will be feeling positive right now.

United need to look at everything, and this may include being more streetwise as Pogba suggests.

One fair criticism of this United side is that the team are ‘too nice’. There is a need for a Roy Keane like enforcer in the midfield.

Pogba isn’t that type of player. Amid all the options at Solskjaer’s disposal, United may not even have anybody suited to really playing the ‘nasty’ role needed.

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