Louis van Gaal described himself as the "victim" of Real Madrid's pursuit of David De Gea as he explained his decision to drop Manchester United's player of the year.
The Dutchman, who warned Real they have to pay De Gea's true value if they are to lure him to the Bernabeu, does not believe the Spaniard is in the right frame of mind to face Tottenham on Saturday.
And Van Gaal's feeling that De Gea should not play is so strong that he is likely to give a debut to 22-year-old Sam Johnstone, who was on loan at League One Preston North End last season.
While United have signed former Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero, the Argentinian missed their preseason friendlies and has not played since the Copa America.
But Van Gaal feels he has to omit De Gea, saying in a news conference: "We've observed and seen him in training sessions and matches and he's not the David De Gea of last year.
"He tries and does utmost best, but it's a difficult situation. Now we have to play our first match and I want players who can focus only on the match and he is not capable to do that."
De Gea has won United's player of the year award in the last two seasons and Van Gaal said he feels powerless in the saga of his future.
"I am the victim, the fellow players are the victims, the club is the victim," he said, arguing that the transfer window should not be open when the season is progressing. "But that's why the transfer period has to change.
"He's the best goalkeeper we've had the last three years I believe. The last two years he was nominated by the fans as the best player at the club. Do you think the coach wants him to leave? I don't think so. The player still has to manage this situation."
De Gea's contract at Old Trafford expires in 2016 and he has declined to sign a lucrative extension.
United want a world-record fee for a goalkeeper, topping the £32.6 million Juventus paid for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001, and Van Gaal said his club does not get players on the cheap.
"Because Manchester United has to pay," he argued. "We have to pay for all the players a certain amount. What has Real Madrid offered? When you say something you have to know something, but you don't know?
"Then you are saying in a suggestive way that we have to be proactive, you cannot be proactive. We are asking money and they have to pay money. In recent years Manchester United have paid a lot of money on players and not received a lot for our players."
United have sold their record signing Angel Di Maria to Paris Saint-Germain for £44.3 million and Van Gaal denied he could have persuaded the Argentinian to stay.
"A player has to sort it out by himself," he said, citing Di Maria's decision not to board a flight to join up with United's preseason tour of North America.
"When you are not coming on the first on the first day we agreed then you are showing you want to go to Paris Saint-Germain."