Manchester United star Jadon Sancho has hit out at Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman revealed he was not included in the defeat to Arsenal due to his poor performances in training.
In a statement posted on Twitter, he said: "Please don't believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue.
"I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won't go into, I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn't fair! All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team.
"I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!"
Antony was picked ahead of the Englishman on the right wing, with Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to replace the Brazilian. Sancho had made substitute appearances in all three of United's games preceding the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
But boss Ten Hag revealed he had been left unhappy with the winger, who has failed to impress since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021. He insisted that Sancho had fallen below the level expected of United players.
Ten Hag said: "Jadon, on his performance in training, was not selected. You have to reach a level at Manchester United every day and we can make choices in the front line. So for this game he was not selected."
Sancho's latest falling out with Ten Hag comes after the winger missed several months of last season following the World Cup. Now that he has fallen way down the pecking order, Sunday's feud with his boss could signal the end of his United career.
In his absence, United fell to a dramatic 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, with the Gunners scoring two goals in second-half stoppage time. Though he praised his players for their performances, Ten Hag was left fuming with the decisions of referee Anthony Taylor.
“I think the performance is right from us. I think we played [a] very good game. But everything went against us and then, of course, then you don't win the game and if [we had] a little bit more luck, you win the game," he said.
“We are more compact, very good defending, high block, lower block. Everyone was involved and then we break like the first goal. I think on the ball we were calm and of course I see definitely also room for improvement and I see the moment where we can go forward.
United's Adidas home shirt is made up of the same colour of the city's iconic red rose and features a black collar. The collar also features a dash of both red and white, giving it a slick and modernised look.
"We missed, I think, some passes forward, but then it could have hurt them more. But I think, overall, I'm happy with the performance from the team. It’s no offside [for the Garnacho goal which was ruled out], wrong angle. It’s a penalty on [Rasmus] Hojlund and then we concede a goal where there’s a foul on Jonny Evans.
"It's so clear and obvious. Okay, you can now say finish your chances. You can say don't concede the goal after you go 1-0 up. Yeah, it's all true. But I think there's really a step forward and I was happy with the performance. That is what it is. You have to accept it.”
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