|
HUDDERSFIELD -- Paul Pogba is a doubt for Manchester United's Champions League clash with Sevilla on Wednesday after missing the win over Huddersfield through illness. The Frenchman was pencilled in to start the 2-0 win at the John Smith's Stadium before being struck down on Friday night, and Jose Mourinho revealed he will wait to see if Pogba recovers in time to make the trip to Spain. Mourinho, who earlier in the week called reports of a rift between him and Pogba "big lies," told a news conference after the game: "I had to think who is going to replace him, what I am going to do. "On Friday we had a good tactical session and then I have to prepare a new team. Michael Carrick replaced Paul. "Paul was going to play as a No.8 on the left and [Nemanja] Matic was going to play as a No.6 and Scott McTominay was going to play as a No.8 on the right but then we move Matic to the eight which is not his normal position. "Now is the time to know about Paul, can he help us on Wednesday and to wait for information." Ander Herrera is already a doubt with a thigh problem while Marouane Fellaini is still absent with a knee problem. Pogba was replaced in the squad by Ethan Hamilton, who played 90 minutes for the Under-23s on Friday night and was told about his inclusion in the first team on Saturday morning, while Michael Carrick was promoted into the starting XI. United progressed into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup with a comfortable win over Huddersfield thanks to goals either side of half-time from Romelu Lukaku -- his 20th and 21st of the season. There was also controversy in the first half when Juan Mata had a goal chalked off by video review. The Spaniard looked marginally offside on the replays, but Mourinho argued it had not constituted a "clear and obvious" mistake from the officials. "It is amazing when the truth comes but also there are problems like what happened today which goes against the words of the protocol," Mourinho said. "The words of the protocol are something like a clear and obvious situation and for sure is not a clear and obvious situation, but we know it is experimental and we have to accept, but I am speaking after a 2-0 victory." United will face Brighton at Old Trafford in the next round of the FA Cup, potentially their best chance of a trophy this season with the title destined for Manchester City and the Champions League still boasting some of Europe's heavyweights. "I am happy that we are in the quarterfinal," Mourinho said. "For the majority of the time in the first half they were offensive, dangerous. They pushed us to good defensive work. Victor [Lindelof] and Chris [Smalling] we were really good. The second half we were in control. We score when we were already in control. "Imagine Brighton is one game to play from Wembley in the semifinals. I don't think they are worried about relegation because they are playing really well. "I prefer Old Trafford than to go to Brighton but I would also prefer Old Trafford against one of the top teams than to go to Wembley with 50-50."
|
