Ralf Rangnick admitted Mason Greenwood was one of Manchester United's 'better players' even though he substituted the forward first in their 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
Greenwood was replaced by Bruno Fernandes in the 60th minute, a decision that elicited boos from thousands of United fans. Fernandes hit the crossbar at 0-0 but Joao Moutinho struck an 82nd-minute winner to inflict a sixth Premier League defeat on United this season.
Rangnick said the logic behind Greenwood's withdrawal was he wanted to keep a specialist striker on the pitch in Edinson Cavani.
"The question was shall I take off Mason or shall I take off Edi, that was the question," Rangnick said. "We decided to keep Edi as the more offensive, the more striker of the two on the pitch. I take off Mason, that was my call.
"We could also have done it in a different way but it shows how highly how the fans like Mason as a homegrown player and, as I said, his effort and performance was not outstanding but at least he was one of the better players today."
Rangnick conceded Wolves were the better side after what was his first defeat as United manager. United remain seventh in the table and three points off the final Champions League qualifying spot.
"They were the better team, we just have to admit that," Rangnick added. "Especially in the first-half, we had big problems to stop them against their combination football. It was only very few moments we could put them under pressure, take the ball away from them, and if that happened we gave it away ourselves too easily once again. Too many turnovers.
"Therefore, it was a very frustrating first-half for everybody, not only for the staff, but the players, which was why we decided to change formation at half-time to a back three and four central midfielders.
"I thought in the second-half we had more control, more situations where we were winning balls, and were in possession of the ball and then, as it is in a game like this, it was a question of who scored the first goal.
"We had a spell of 15 minutes where we hit the crossbar and the header from Cristiano was unfortunately offside. The goal they scored once again showed our problems defensively.
"We cannot allow [Adama] Traore, to go back to our goal to turn, knowing he is one of the faster players against speed, and gets the cross in.
"We defended the cross but out of the box there was nobody who could block a shot and we gave away far too easy a goal."
