Everton interim boss Duncan Ferguson insisted that his surprise decision to withdraw substitute Moise Kean at Old Trafford was "nothing personal" against the forward.
Kean cut a forlorn figure was he was substituted just 19 minutes after coming on in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
The former Juventus attacker had replaced Bernard in the 70th minute of the match, shortly before Mason Greenwood struck for United to cancel out Victor Liindelof's first half own goal.
But he was then replaced by Oumar Niasse in the 89th minute of the game having touched the ball just nine times, including once from a kick-off.
The 19-year-old Italy international trudged off the pitch and headed towards the tunnel without looking at Ferguson.
But speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Ferguson insisted that the decision to take Kean off was purely for tactical reasons.
"It wasn't because of Moise Kean's performance," said the Scot.
"I just needed to make a substitution to kill a bit of time. That's all it was.
"Because I've got so many strikers on the bench I just decided to make that change.
"It was nothing personal against Moise Kean really."
Kean is yet to score for Everton in 14 appearances since a much-heralded move from Juventus in the summer, and he has been linked with a move back to Italy.
The draw gave Ferguson a second positive result since replacing Marco Silva in temporary charge of the Blues, who followed up last week's 3-1 victory over Chelsea with a battling display despite a lengthy injury list.
"They were fantastic to a man," beamed Ferguson.
"I'm delighted because we've got a point. Man United came on strong in the second half. I thought the boys were absolutely immense, amazing."
