Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko has claimed he is the scapegoat for a rift between manager Jose Mourinho and Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich.
The £30m striker revealed tension behind the scenes in an interview with German tv website sport.ARD.de.
He said: "It's true I have complained about Mourinho, but there are a lot of things which drove me to that.
"A few months ago I suddenly became his dartboard because he was having a spat with the president at the time."
The Ukrainian has failed to produce his best form since moving from AC Milan to Chelsea in the summer.
But he appeared to make it clear where his loyalties lie, saying: "I'm an employee of the club so I do what the president says."
He revealed he has been frustrated, saying: "The manager never spoke to me or played me in the position where my strengths lie.
"It's also no secret that I was more on Mr Abramovich's wish list than the manager's.
"In the transfer talks, Mr Mourinho seemed positive and happy at first."
But Shevchenko claimed the relationship changed because of a rift between Mourinho and Abramovich.
He said: "A manager should be objective and not take it out on a player. For the first time in my career a manager said in public that I did not completely fit in with his plan.
"That's not exactly great motivation. If he thinks that why am I here?
"One on one with me he cleared the matter up and said his opinion had been twisted. But inside it still bothers me.
"I don't like arguing but I don't forget things either. If the club boss asks me again what I think of the manager then I'll speak for me personally."
Shevchenko, who also admitted he is struggling to settle in London, added: "Mourinho is a very good manager, but I don't fit into his system. In any event I know it can't carry on like that.
"Our relationship is professional. Nothing more nothing less. He is a tactical fox and has strict beliefs, but I've had better managers."