David McNally

Fulham defender Dejan Stefanovic claims he was the victim of ‘fabricated quotes’ and never slammed The Cottagers' chances of hanging onto their top flight status.

Last week the 33-year-old was splashed over the media for allegedly saying his old club Portsmouth would claim victory in their final match of the season against Fulham, which The Cottagers eventually won 1-0 with a late goal by Danny Murphy.

A headline: “Stefanovic: We’re going to lose” hit the media stands and claimed that the outburst would spell the end of the former Sheffield Wednesday defender's career at Craven Cottage.

A statement by Stefanovic released by Fulham, read: “Last week an article appeared in a local Portsmouth newspaper previewing Sunday’s crucial game at Fratton Park.

“I was deeply disappointed and angered to find I had been misquoted in the feature.

“To my dismay the quotes were subsequently repeated in The Sun newspaper on Saturday in an article written by a journalist I had not even spoken to.”

The centre back, bought in for £1 million from the South Coast side by sacked manager Lawrie Sanchez, has only made five appearances under Roy Hodgson since his arrival in December.

He said: “I would like to make it clear that despite not being involved last Sunday I was 100% behind the team and delighted to see the boys get the win that retained the club's Premier League status.

“On a weekend when I should have been toasting my colleagues I was saddened to read fabricated quotes that were in no way representative of my feelings towards the game and our season.

"I am delighted that we won at Fratton Park and that the fans will be watching Premier League football again next season at Craven Cottage, and I would like to apologise to those fans and of course the club's chairman, for these incorrect quotes appearing in the press in the build up to such a big game."