Manchester United robbed of wildcard in derby as Paul Pogba injury costs Jose Mourinho key tactical tweak

Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United were robbed of their wildcard after Paul Pogba was ruled out of the derby.

The United manager was desperate to get record signing Pogba back for Sunday’s clash after suffering a ‘small injury’ following victory over Juventus in midweek.

But he believes the Frenchman’s absence also cost his side the chance to use Marouane Fellaini as a game-changing substitute against Manchester City.

Belgium midfielder Fellaini was hailed by his manager following his cameo performance in the comeback win against Juve in the Champions League.

He had a similar plan in mind for the 30-year-old at the Etihad – but Pogba’s injury forced him into late change.

Fellaini was named from the start in the 3-1 defeat – which Mourinho claims was pivotal.

“It is not for me to lose a game and speak about this player,” said the 55-year-old. “I don’t like very much (to do that) but it is important for us in many aspects of the game because we had to play Fellaini.

“Fellaini was not ready to play for 90 minutes. I can just imagine when the result was 2-1 to bring a fresh Fellaini to the pitch. I think they would be in big, big trouble.

“But when the result was 2-1 and we had that final push Fellaini was doing an incredible effort to stay on the pitch, not fresh at all, risking his injury and condition and giving everything for the team.

“But clearly one thing is to bring a fresh Fellaini on and another thing is to bring him on fresh for this match.

“For different reasons we missed Paul, but that doesn’t mean with Paul we win the game, so it is not excuse.”

Mourinho has ruled Pogba out of joining up with the France squad for the upcoming games against Holland and Uruguay as he nurses an injury that only came to light when he missed training on Friday.

United were still hopeful he would make the derby, giving him a late fitness test on Saturday, before accepting he would take no part.

The £89m midfielder scored twice to inspire United’s dramatic 3-2 win in the same game last season – and his absence was keenly felt as Mourinho’s midfield lacked guile or fluidity.

Derby defeat leaves United 12 points adrift of City and effectively ends their faint hopes of challenging for the title.

But Mourinho insists his side’s season will not be allowed to unravel on the back of one result.

“I am with my players and even with my players that today made mistakes that lead to Manchester City goals,” he said. “We are together, we are not going to be affected by this.

“I am just sorry we don’t play the next match soon and have to wait 13 days for that, but we are improving, we are together and go together until the end.”