Striker says Pellegrini has ‘killed’ him with his decision…
Manchester City’s Champions League outcast Stevan Jovetic is said to be assessing his future at the club after being cut from their European squad.
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Manuel Pellegrini opted to cut Jovetic in favour of £28 million new boy Wilfried Bony, a decision the Montenegrin says was wrong and has ‘killed’ him, reports Daily Mirror.
The decision, says Jovetic, has left him to consider his future with City, a club he only joined in 2013.
“I deserve to play in the Champions League. I know that. The manager has killed me with this decision. I feel I deserve my place and other people have told me the same,” said Jovetic to the Mirror.
“People have told me I am a great player, but it is clear that the manager doesn’t think the same way. I am very disappointed, even now. I don’t think it was a good decision – or the right decision.
“I know that I deserve to be on the list. I told the manager this, but he didn’t want to listen to me. I came here to play in the Champions League.”
Manchester City have had to contend with a reduced squad number due to their non-compliance with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.
It was expected that Bacary Sagna or Edin Dzeko could be cut but Jovetic ended up missing out.
The striker played in five out of six games for the reigning Premier League Champions in the group stages but only started one match and provided no goals.
It’s a similar story in the league with Jovetic having started just nine games so far this season and managing five goals.
“It is difficult to be focused when something like this happens, but I am a professional and I want to show that I can still play a big part this season. This is a bad time for me, but I am working hard and I will be there for the team.
“I have spent all week thinking about it and when we play Barcelona I think it will be very difficult for me.
“I think I helped the team get through the group and, because of that, I am very unhappy that I am out.
“This year, every time I have played, I think I have done well. I have score five goals in the Premier League without having too many minutes on the pitch.
“I know that we can all have disappointments – that’s football – but I am hurting really bad right now.”
City will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on 24th February.