Manchester United respond to talk of rift between Erik ten Hag and Antony after weekend snub

Antony did not make the trip to Bournemouth on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United have denied talk of a rift between Erik ten Hag and Antony after the winger was left out of the squad against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Brazil international did not make the trip to the Vitality Stadium as United laboured to a 2-2 draw against the Cherries – a result that serves as another major blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Antony has endured a miserable second season in Manchester but has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks with an impressive display against Chelsea earlier this month.

Rumours on social media speculated Antony was suddenly dropped from the squad at the weekend because of a row with ten Hag over playing time.

However, United insist that was not the case, according to ESPN, with a minor injury suffered in training on Friday leading to him being left out of the squad.

Sources close to the former Ajax star meanwhile suggest the injury is not a serious one with hope he will recover in time to face Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

The issue of squad discipline arose again in the aftermath of Saturday’s draw on the south coast after Alejandro Garnacho’s official X account liked tweets criticising Erik ten Hag’s decisions.

Garnacho was replaced at half-time on Saturday (Picture: Getty)

The Argentina international was brought off at half-time, replaced by Amad Diallo, with ten Hag later explaining he had to ‘repair the right side’ of his team, where Garnacho was playing.

In posts shared after the match, United social media influencer Mark Goldbridge labelled ten Hag’s decision to substitute Garnacho as a ‘joke’ and criticised the United manager for ‘blaming’ the Argentine winger in his post-match press conference.

Garnacho’s account liked both posts before being ‘unliked’ on Sunday.

A draw against Bournemouth leaves United 13 points adrift of fourth place Aston Villa with Tottenham 10 clear in fifth place.

Newcastle United’s win on Saturday lifted them into sixth ahead of United.

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