Hyypia unhappy at Euro snub
08 Sep 2008 - 13:43:03
Liverpool's veteran central defender Sami Hyypia has hit out at being omitted from his club's 25-man squad for the group stages of the Champions League.
The 34-year-old Finland international had been linked with a move to Stoke City just before the transfer deadline passed, but opted to stay put, having been unaware at being out in the cold in Europe.
He told the Daily Echo: "The manager's decision to leave me out of the squad is a big disappointment for me.
"I understand it's partly because of the UEFA regulations, but despite that the news came as a surprise to me and a shock too.
"But the club had a perfect timing for this. They didn't want me to move elsewhere, so that's why I was told the news of having been left out, just after the transfer window had closed.
"The club went public to say there had been offers for me, but turned them down. So perhaps that means I am still part of the plans for this season.
"I don't know if I would have wanted to move on had I heard the news about the squad when the window was still open."