Source: United shoot down Antony, Ten Hag rift

Manchester United have dismissed suggestions that Antony was left out of the squad for the game against Bournemouth because of a disagreement with manager Erik ten Hag, a source has told ESPN.

Antony was absent at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday as United drew 2-2 to further dent their hopes of Champions League qualification.

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A source has told ESPN that the club is unhappy with speculation that the Brazil winger was left out because of a row with Ten Hag over his playing time.

United sources insisted he wasn’t able to participate against Bournemouth because of an injury picked up in training on Friday, which meant he could not finish the session.

Sources close to Antony have told ESPN that the issue is not serious and that the 24-year-old could recover in time to face Coventry in the FA Cup semifinal on Sunday.

Meanwhile, defender Diogo Dalot has hinted that United’s defensive problems are because they are “taking too many risks.”

Ten Hag’s team have conceded 12 goals in their last five games and faced 20 shots against Bournemouth. Liverpool had 28 shots in their 2-2 draw at Old Trafford and Chelsea also had 28 shots in their 4-3 win over United at Stamford Bridge.

“Maybe we are taking too many risks,” said Dalot following the draw with Bournemouth. “Sometimes the gap between the defence and midfield is a little bit too big, which is why we are sometimes getting the counter-attacks too many times and are conceding too many shots, but overall we are looking forward to take this as a learning process and trying to do better.”