It’s official now- Paul Pogba will miss the Manchester Derby on Sunday; as well as United’s next two games (Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion) after that.
Manchester United, 3-1 winners at Arsenal this past Saturday, have decided not to appeal the Football Association ruling that resulted in a three match ban for Pogba. The Frenchman drew a straight red card for his making a studs up challenge on Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin and thus getting himself removed from the game.
There was talk that the FA was considering extending Pogba’s ban, due to the reaction of the midfielder towards the official, but decided to keep it at three games instead. Jose Mourinho’s first away win over a top six side in three years, should have been sweet, not bittersweet.
However, the bitter component, the Paul Pogba red card, now drastically changes the Manchester Derby next weekend, and quite possibly the whole complexion of the season down the line. If United lose, then they’re probably out of the Premier League title race. Given that United are the closest competitor to City in the standings, we just might see the title race over by Christmas.
In the meantime, Paul Pogba is still eligible for European competition, and Mourinho has said that he will start him for the group stage clash at home against CSKA Moscow.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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