Why Jose Mourinho substituted Paul Pogba in Manchester United's defeat to Tottenham

Man United midfielder Paul Pogba [Photo: Courtesy]

Frank Lampard has attempted to explain why Jose Mourinho substituted Paul Pogba in Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

The France international, who cost the Red Devils a whopping £89million last season, was hooked after 63 minutes and replaced by Juan Mata.

Pogba was seemingly struggling to make an impact on the game, as Tottenham dominated their illustrious opponents at Wembley.

And Lampard believes Mourinho was right to take the midfielder off for Mata, despite the decision raising a few eyebrows.

"Pogba's got so many great forward-thinking attributes - athleticism, ability on the ball, can find a pass," explained Lampard, on BT Sport.

"But if he's being asked to do that job today next to [Nemanja] Matic, he has to do that with complete responsibility.

"He has to take one on the chin and I didn't see him have that defensive awareness. That's why [Mourinho] brought him off early because he's one of his prime players.

"We've all been there as a midfield player and I had it loads during my career with managers asking me to have more discipline - you have to try and take it onboard.

"When you're [facing] a team where there are lots of threats around you, you have to think 'what is happening around me?' Not just when we get the ball.

"He didn't switch on enough to that and sometimes when the ball went on the other side of him, he doesn't run back as fast as he runs forward and that's a big problem."

On his part, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had other reasons as his main triggers that compelled him to withdraw the Frenchman just by the hour mark.

 “"Just change for Fellaini," Mourinho explained. "Try different qualities with different players."