Bristol City vs Manchester United: Phil Neville blasted for claiming the pitch was ‘too dry’ for Paul Pogba in Carabao Cup defeat
Sky Sports pundit also believes Frenchman was lucky not to pick up ANOTHER red card for tackle on Marlon Pack
PHIL NEVILLE was slated for saying the Bristol City pitch was "too dry" for Paul Pogba.
Manchester United's £89million midfielder returned from a three-match ban for the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
But he hardly affected the game in the first half.
Former United star turned Sky Sports pundit Neville bizarrely said: "The pitch doesn't suit Paul Pogba.
"It's a little bit dry."
But the ex-England defender's words did NOT go down well with social media users.
Pogba played his first game since picking up a straight red card against Arsenal for a reckless challenge.
Amazingly, the France midfielder, 24, almost found himself in hot water again for a similar tackle.
Pogba led in with his boots showing and grazed the knee of Marlon Pack.
Referee Mike Dean deemed it a fair tackle and did not caution Pogba.
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But Neville believes the talismanic Old Trafford star was "lucky" to stay on the pitch.
He said: "He got sent off for tackle like this on Bellerin.
"He’s got away with that there, because he’s not connected with the leg of Pack, he has slid across the thigh.
"If he’d connected with studs that'd be a red card and another three-game suspension so he's really lucky."
Speaking before the match, Neville said: "When I see Manchester United without Paul Pogba I see a team which goes from one who can swat away teams by three or four goals to one that's workmanlike.
"Pogba is a leader in what he does.
"He makes United more enjoyable to watch and he frees up the attacking players with his understanding with Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
"As a forward he gives you that spark and arrogance.
"When he doesn't play it becomes more predictable and his unpredictability when United play is really important."