Manchester United defender Donald Love has accused Louis van Gaal of giving him the cold shoulder after dropping him from the Red Devils’ starting XI.
21-year-old Love stepped into the side earlier in the season, filling in in a backline that had been devastated by injuries.
The youngster spend the first half of the campaign on loan at Wigan Athletic in League One, but returned to Old Trafford to feature for 53 minutes against Sunderland in the Premier League, and then for 90 minutes in the 2-1 defeat by FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
Love was booked in that match, and hasn’t been seen in the United team since.
“It’s not really hit me yet. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I learned a lot from it. The manager told me to go out and play like I did for the [Under] 21s. That’s what I did and I thought we did well,” Love told The Times, as per Goal.
“But we lost the game to two set pieces. He told me after the Sunderland game I’d done well and that I was one of the better players. That gives your confidence a boost.
“In the Sunderland game I was charging forward and the winger didn’t get past me once. I just played my own game. The pace didn’t bother me because our [Under] 21s coach nails fitness into us.
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“But we lost the next game and I’ve fallen out of it since then. I don’t regret anything because I did my best when I was out there. But I wanted to win. The manager hasn’t spoken to me yet, but I think that’s just how he is.
“I think I see him how you see him: it’s either his way or no other way. I’m just waiting for another chance.”
Love has returned to United’s reserve team, and with the Red Devils’ first-choice defenders steadily returning to fitness and form, it’s hard to see the youngster returning to the side any time soon, particularly considering his unconvincing showing in Europe.