• Champions League

Axe warning for struggling Manchester City stars

Samir Nasri says he and his Manchester City team-mates must start to deliver in the Champions League - or face being jettisoned.

City have again failed to impress in the competition and have little room for error as they host Bayern Munich in a crunch clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have claimed just two points from four games in Group E and will be eliminated if they fail to beat the Germans and there is a winner in the game between CSKA Moscow and Roma.

To exit at the group stage for a third time in four attempts would be considered a regression and midfielder Nasri said the team should be doing better.

"Let's be honest, we need to do something or otherwise next year it is going to be new players," he told newspaper reporters. "That's how we work when you play for a big team, a big club. You have to respond and show everyone you deserve to qualify.

"With the salary of every player and the level of those players, 90 percent of the team is world class, then not to qualify from the first round of the Champions League would be a huge blow for the club - and for us as well.

"With the players we have, the owner gives us his trust, we have to return it in the Champions League.''

Scenarios exist where City could still progress if they only manage a draw against Bayern but much would depend on other results.

Only with a victory can they be sure of maintaining interest and defender Martin Demichelis has promised they will fight hard in hope of achieving it.

The Argentina international said: "We are not happy with the performances we have put in in the Champions League. We have a good squad and should do much better.

"But there are two games left and I am sure we will play better. Why shouldn't we dream of going through to the last 16?

"From the start it is a question of being straight at it and putting in the best performance we can, looking to control the game and play with aggression.''

Bayern are already through to the knockout stages and have several injuries but Demichelis, who spent nine years at the German club earlier in his career, claims that will not affect their attitude towards the game.

"My experience of playing over there tells me it won't be easy," he said. "Maybe they won't field their strongest starting XI but they have the quality of players in the squad and on the bench.''

Samir Nasri says Manchester City's players need to pay back the trust of the club's owners © Getty Images

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