Jose Mourinho claims his decision to drop Paul Pogba from his side's starting line-up against Huddersfield was purely tactical, reports the MEN .
Manchester United's record signing was left on the bench for the first time since his move to the Red Devils.
Mourinho opted for youngster Scott McTominay in the Frenchman's place, with Pogba only joining the action in the 65th minute as a substitute for Jesse Lingard.
United struggled to excel without Pogba in the first-half but eventually breached the promoted side through Romelu Lukaku's 55th minute finish.
McTominay, 21, was starting his second league game of the campaign and Mourinho claimed the academy graduate's development at United is 'beautiful'.
"I change a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone," Mourinho said.
"Because to punish anyone I also need someone to punish me because we are a team and when we win we win together and we lose together.
"But I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game and I think this kid has a great desire to recover the ball when the team is not in possession, he's a kid that chases the ball, that tries to recover high up the pitch and when he has the ball it is always simple and against opponents like Huddersfield, so close and with so many bodies behind the ball, the simplicity sometimes is genius.
"You don't have space, you have to open spaces by playing simple, so was a decision to play the kid but Paul came on very, very well with a great attitude with the spaces that we had at that time because we were winning 1-0 and Paul could show his talents and his qualities.
"I always try to do what 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 with his mum at nine-years-old for the first training session.
"10 or 11 years later the kid is playing in a Manchester United shirt in an important match in the Premier League at home at Old Trafford, so I prefer to look at that perspective.
"Paul is a fantastic player, no doubt for me one of the most talented midfield players in the world but to sit on the bench one day is not the end of the world."
Mourinho was not so pleased with his side's support however, as he took another swipe at Manchester United fans for failing to create any atmosphere in the win.
The United boss has complained before at the lack of intensity from fans particularly in games against inferior opponents who sit behind the ball.
“It's not Portsmouth - I remember when I was in the Premier League and for such a small stadium, the atmosphere was incredible.
“Here it is a bit quiet and is not very, very enthusiastic. But the players like to play at home.”
Mourinho also revealed Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini has had knee surgery after injuring himself against Tottenham and will be out for nearly two months.
“He has had surgery but is not the end of the season, not at all. It is a small intervention in his external miniscus and I want to believe by the end of March he can be back.
“I hope he will have a big April and May still be able to play in more than one competition."