Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Joleon Lescott: Manuel Pellegrini inconsistent in cup final selection

Joleon Lescott has accused Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini of double standards for omitting him from last season's Capital One Cup final.

The former City defender, who left the Premier League champions to join West Brom in the summer after five seasons at the Etihad Stadium, expected to play against Sunderland at Wembley.

But, after featuring in every previous round of the competition, he was dropped as Pellegrini preferred to pick his own signing Martin Demichelis, who was partly culpable for Sunderland's goal in City's 3-1 win.

"I played every minute, captained the semifinal, then not playing [in the final] was the hardest part," Lescott told national newspapers.

The 32-year-old signed for the Baggies on a free transfer after leaving City, and says he was treated differently from goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

The Romanian was also a regular in City's Capital One Cup team but not their Premier League side, though retained his place for the final.

"He [Pellegrini] just read out the team and my name wasn't there," Lescott added. "We won and then he explained why he didn't pick Joe [Hart]. It was because Pantsy had played more minutes. I was like: 'If that's the reason for him, why isn't that a reason for me?'"

Lescott felt Pellegrini showed more loyalty to his signings than the players he inherited.

He explained: "A manager has no allegiance to a player they haven't bought. They think: 'He's from the old team. If I don't pick him, he's not going to be seen as my mistake'."

Lescott, who made 160 appearances in his five seasons after City from Everton for 24 million pounds, was a first choice for England in Euro 2012 and has not given up hope of an international recall.

He added: "I've only played three games this season [so] for me to say I should be back in the squad would be disrespectful. If I continue to play the same level up to the next international then hopefully I will be closer."

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