Manchester United's Paul Pogba has insisted that there was no malicious intent behind his stamp on Arsenal's Hector Bellerin on Saturday.
Pogba was shown a straight red for a studs-up challenge on the Spaniard during United's 3-1 win over the Gunners at the Emirates, a decision that the club have opted not to appeal.
"Hector, I know him as well, and I would never give him a tackle like this. He was in a position that was a disadvantage for me so I done it," The Sun quotes the 24-year-old as saying.
"It looks very bad but the intention wasn't like that. The referee, got the red card and that's football."
The dismissal will see Pogba miss out on this weekend's Manchester derby, which has left him "disappointed".
"I'm very disappointed because I really want to help the team and wanted to be there for this derby because obviously we are playing City and in this moment we need points and we need to win," he added.
"It's an important moment, an important game so, like I say, disappointed.
"I think we are all playing football, to play those kind of games and unfortunately for me I won't play. That's destiny. I say destiny because I cannot go back in the past."
United last night confirmed their place in the last-16 stage of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow.
Dan Saney
