Roberto Mancini believes Joleon Lescott is still an important player for Manchester City, despite leaving the defender out for some of the biggest matches this season, The Independent reports.
Lescott has been left out of key games in the Premier League against Liverpool and Fulham, as well as the Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.
The arrival of Matija Nastasic from Fiorentina has seemingly allowed Lescott to fall down the defensive pecking order, even though he was a key figure in City’s Premier League title triumph last season.
But the centre-back had recently said in the past that he is happy to rotate his place in the squad and will not complain at being left out of the side.
Mancini was keen to highlight the 30-year-old’s qualities as City face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League tomorrow night.
He said: “He is one of the best defenders. But I have six or seven defenders and I made a different choice last week and in Madrid.
“Tomorrow I will decide again, but Joleon is an important player for us.”