• Champions League

Champions League axe has killed me, says Jovetic

ESPN staff
February 15, 2015
Stevan Jovetic has scored five goals in 10 league games for Manchester City this season © Getty Images
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Stevan Jovetic has hit out at Manuel Pellegrini for axing him from Manchester City's Champions League squad, hinting he may now seek a move away from the club in the summer.

City can only register 21 senior players in their European squad after breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, and Jovetic, 25, was replaced by £28 million signing Wilfried Bony for the knockout stages.

Jovetic, who has endured 18 injury-hit months at City since signing from Fiorentina for £22 million, told the Sunday Mirror: "The manager has killed me with this decision. I deserve to play in the Champions League. I know that.

"I feel I deserve my place and people have told me the same. People have told me I am a great player, but it is clear the manager doesn't think the same way.

"I am very disappointed, even now. I don't 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."

Jovetic has been linked with a move back to Italy and refused to suggest he is willing to stay and fight for his place at City.

"I have not made any decision about my future," he added. "I will wait until the summer, then we will see. But the manager has put other players ahead of me, so maybe this is a message about what he wants to do."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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