Why We Drop Nasri To Include Iheanacho In Champions League Squad…..Pellegrini

Kelechi Iheanacho has been added to Manchester City’s Champions League squad, replacing Samir Nasri.The young striker has been integrated into Manuel Pellegrini’s squad this season and scored a super hat-trick in the FA Cup win at Aston Villa on Saturday.And the manager has faith in Iheanacho to fill the void left by the injured Wilfried Bony for the last-16 tie against Dynamo Kiev.

“He will be in the squad – he had the option to demonstrate why he is with the squad,” Pellegrini said.“He played really well and will continue to fight to start. It’s very important to use the whole squad because it is very different to do it with 11 players.“I’ve told Nasri that I’ll take him out of the Champions League list. We need Kelechi now because of Bony’s injury also.

“It was not a difficult decision. It’s difficult to tell a player but Samir understood – he knows he needs two months more.”Iheanacho’s emergence is vindication of City pumping millions into their academy and Pellegrini insists age is just a number for those wanting to break into the first team.“It’s important for everyone, for the club who invested a lot of money in the training ground,” he added.

“The media are always criticising us for spending so it is important to bring young players through. I’m sure next year other players will arrive also. The door isn’t closed because they are young.”