Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that Paul Pogba's omission from the starting lineup for their 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town this afternoon was not a punishment.
Pogba was one of a number of notable absentees at Old Trafford in the wake of United's 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, with Phil Jones and Ashley Young also missing out as Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo were all handed surprise starts.
However, Mourinho claimed that his decision to drop the France international was not down to his performance at Wembley and was instead designed to get the best possible result against Huddersfield.
"I changed a few players and the intention was not to punish anyone. I made a few changes thinking about the characteristics of this game," he told reporters at his post-match press conference.
"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 (Pogba came on in the 65th minute) is not the end of the world."
United will be back in action against Newcastle United next Sunday.
Barney Corkhill
