Jose Mourinho insists Paul Pogba was not dropped and Scott McTominay's selection was a conscious decision: 'He always plays simple... against this kind of opposition simplicity is genius'

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Paul Pogba was not dropped. That was the first point Jose Mourinho wanted to make. There was a reason Scott McTominay had been selected and it wasn't to punish the Frenchman.

What Mourinho could not dispute, though, was the fact eyebrows had been raised by his selection of a 21-year-old Academy graduate at the expense of one of the world's most expensive players, who had been dragged off for an erratic performance in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

McTominay has barely figured this season but, thrust into a game to which Mourinho had given huge importance, he responded with a display that had his manager purring. Economical with his passing and constant with his running.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho insisted he did not drop Paul Pogba on Saturday

'The kid grew up with the game,' said Mourinho. 'He started nervous but then grew up in the game and he was fundamental for us in the way he gave us that desire to recover the ball. We were solid and by being solid, we had the ball all the time.

'I made changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and this kid [McTominay] has a great desire to recover the ball. He's a kid that chases the ball, tries to recover high up the pitch and when he has the ball he plays always simple.

'Sometimes against opponents like Huddersfield, who play so close, with so many bodies, sometimes simplicity is genius. You have to open space by playing simple, so it was a decision to play the kid.'

This was the first time Pogba had not started a match for United for which he had been fit since arriving from Juvents but Mourinho insisted there was no significance to the decision and was happy with how his No 6 performed when coming on in the 64th minute.

The Frenchman was erratic against Tottenham and started on the bench against Huddersfield

Mourinho said it was purely tactical and he chose Scott McTominay specifically for this match

'I don't feel that it was a big call,' said Mourinho. 'I try to do what I think is best for the team in any moment. I prefer to look at it in the beautiful way of a little kid that arrived here at 9 years old with mum for the first training session. 

'10 or 11 years later he is playing in United shirt in important match in Premier League at home. I prefer to look at that perspective.

'Paul is a fantastic player, one of the most talented in the world, but to sit on the bench one day is not the end of the world. I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone. 

'To punish anyone, I also need someone to punish me because we are a team. When we win we win together, when we lose we lose together.'

Mourinho eventually brought Pogba on in the second half to replace midfielder Jesse Lingard