Neville blasts Pogba for giving away penalty against West Ham
Paul Pogba was at the centre of a moment of madness during Manchester United’s game with West Ham on Wednesday night – an incident that was faulted by United legend Gary Neville.
Going into the match, the fifth-placed Red Devils only needed a point to go above fourth-placed Leicester heading into the final game of the season against the Foxes.
However, the likelihood of that became slimmer on Wednesday night after falling behind to West Ham.
The Hammers were awarded a free-kick in first-half injury time when Timothy Fosu-Mensah fouled Michail Antonio 30 yards from goal.
From the resulting set-piece Declan Rice blasted an effort towards goal which struck Paul Pogba.
Initially it appeared it hit him in the face – with the midfielder initiating so with some theatrics.
However, VAR showed it clearly and inexplicably hit the 27-year-old on the arm – with Pogba a good 10 yards or so away from where the free-kick initially took place.
United legend Neville was on the co-commentary for the match and was damning of Pogba. Speaking on Sky Sports he said: ‘It’s rubbish from him, rubbish… it’s embarrassing.’
As a result a penalty was awarded to West Ham – which Antonio converted to put David Moyes’ side 1-0 up at half-time.
Fellow United legend Patrice Evra was also critical of his former France team-mate in Pogba.
‘All United fans would like to see Paul bleeding,’ he told Sky Sports as a pundit.
‘He knows what he has to do in the second half. As soon as I saw Paul stand up with no blood I knew he used his hands.
‘People know he has made a huge mistake. All United fans would like to see Paul bleeding, even if the ball broke his nose. It is difficult to forgive Paul on this one. He knows what he has to do in the second half.
"It's rubbish from him, rubbish!" 🚮
Paul Pogba inexplicably handles the ball in the box and Antonio punishes him on the stroke of half-time! ✋
📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #MUNWHU here: https://t.co/0fBMND0A5n
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/ulIhNbLsuq— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 22, 2020
Read Also: Klopp demands more from Liverpool after lifting EPL trophy
‘As soon as I saw Paul stand up and his face was so clean with no blood I knew he used his face. He made a big big mistake. Paul knows and we have VAR, today the one in VAR is not Stevie Wonder so that’s why he gave the penalty.’
Luckily for Pobga it didn’t prove too costly as Mason Greenwood’s fine strike on 51 minutes earned United a 1-1 draw and the point they needed to go into the top four.