An article in a nationwide paper recently claimed that I threatened to leave the club if I do not get to play. This is simply not true. And how can this be true if I have not even spoken to any of their journalist? It seems to me that they have picked up what I said from an interview I gave to a Greek newspaper and fit it under a poorly selected title. Even so I never threatened I would leave if I don't get to play. I have been around for a number of years and they should know better than this.

Of course I do not like sitting on the bench. Who does anyway? I prefer being in the squad as much as any other professional footballer would have liked to be. I want to play for the club and do my best in order to realise our aims.

I expressed my views to the manager. He already knew of course, since everyone in the squad wants to be at the starting eleven. This is obviously impossible and the manager has to make his mind and pick the players he feels that can do the job. I respect and fully appreciate his decisions and in no circumstance did I challenge his decisions in mind. I dedicated to the club and I will remain until the very same day my contract ends.

It was mentioned that I wanted to sit down and discuss my contract at the end of the season. This is self-understood and is actually a common practise at the club. I have only a year left and both the club and I would have to sit down and discuss our future at some point. Still, may I clarify - yet once more - that I never threatened I would leave the club. I really enjoy playing for United and for our fans.

Nikos Dabizas