London (AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic has apologised for the booking that earned him a suspension for Manchester United’s clash with Arsenal.
Ibrahimovic was shown his fifth yellow card of the season for a second half incident with Swansea’s Leroy Fer in United’s 3-1 win at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
The Swedish striker scored twice in the victory, but his booking means he will be serving a one-game ban when the Gunners visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on November 19.
“You know what? Every time I try to play my game by being strong and going into the tackles, or whatever it is, I get a yellow card,” Ibrahimovic told MUTV.
“I don’t know what the explanation was because I think I was too tired and I didn’t hear him (referee Neil Swarbrick).
“It is what it is. In England, the football is hard, it’s physical.
“I just have to accept it. I’ve got to be professional. I’m sorry I am suspended for the next game.
“I wish I wasn’t as it’s a game I really wanted to play in. But I have trust in my team-mates and the team and I know they can do fine also without me.”
United’s win was overshadowed by Jose Mourinho’s critical comments about the mentality of some of his player.
Mourinho appeared to be making reference to defenders Chris Smalling and Luke Shaw when he suggested some of his players were less willing to play through pain than others.
United midfielder Paul Pogba played the full duration of the Swansea game, despite having been an injury doubt after limping off in the first half of Thursday’s 2-1 Europa League defeat at Fenerbahce.
And he said he was always willing to put his body on the line to help United.
“I always say that when you go with your head the rest will follow,” he said. “I was fit enough to play and the gaffer picked me.
“I think every player wanted to win this game and everyone was focused.”
