• Champions League

Mancini: It was my fault, and now we need a miracle

ESPN staff
October 24, 2012
Siem de Jong netted Ajax's equaliser © Getty Images
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Roberto Mancini delivered a staggeringly honest interview after watching his Manchester City side lose 3-1 to Ajax, insisting it was his fault that they lost.

City's Champions League campaign is in major trouble after defeat in Amsterdam left them with one point from three matches. Goals from Siem de Jong, Nicklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen overturned Samir Nasri's opener.

Mancini, either through honesty or an attempt to protect his players, turned all the blame on himself, claiming he did not prepare properly for the match. When pressed on the issue, the Italian explained that he sent his men out with the wrong tactics to beat Ajax.

"They played better than us," Mancini told Sky Sports. "It's my fault, I didn't prepare the players properly for this game.

"It's my fault. I prepared them one way but it was different. When you prepare them one way and think it will be like this, instead it is a different game."

Mancini attempted to change his side's fortunes in the second half by switching from a back four to a back three, but he insists that alteration did not cost City the match.

"We changed for five minutes but there were always 11 players [on the pitch]," he said. "Before [the change], we conceded two goals, so if someone wants to take this as an excuse, OK, but this is not the problem.

"We have to be strong. It is very difficult [to qualify now]. One team (Dortmund) has seven points, one (Real Madrid) has six, we need a miracle like last year."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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