FUMING Lukasz Fabianski says he “should have been treated better” after being dropped as West Ham’s No 1.
The veteran Pole claimed he “wasn’t mentally ready” to be axed after David Moyes told him Alphonse Areola was replacing him as first choice Prem stopper just two days before the season started.
Fabianski, 38, who was benched for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, revealed: “I took the news awfully.
“It was a massive shock. The information made me angry. I wasn’t mentally ready for something like this.
“The way the situation was handled feels weird.
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“You can probably feel my pain. All I will say is through my work with the club, coaching staff and manager, I deserved the situation to unfold in a much different way, and on Thursday.
“I should’ve been treated better in that specific situation.”
Moyes, who feels he has two No 1s, faced a tough decision with fan favourite Fabianski having played 176 games since his £7million switch from Swansea in 2018.
But five-cap France ace Areola, who is eight years Fabianski's junior, is considered West Ham’s long-term first choice.
The Paris Saint-Germain youth academy product has waited patiently for his Prem chance for two years since arriving on loan from the French giants in July 2021 - West Ham sealed a £10m permanent move a year later.
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The Hammers also reached the 2021-22 Europa League semi-finals and won last season’s Europa Conference League with then-cup keeper Areola between the sticks.
SunSport understands the 30-year-old is targeting a spot in France’s Euro 2024 squad next summer and would have pushed for a move away if he was Prem No 2 for another season.
It is believed Fabianski was told he will replace Areola as cup keeper this season on Thursday. Areola played 24 games in all competitions last season.
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