City need to pick themselves up

Six Champions League games, three points and no wins. It’s safe to say that Manchester City endured a more miserable campaign than last, having also failed to qualify for the Europa League on top of exiting the competition.

Dubbed the group of champions, with every team the respective domestic title winner in their respective league last season, qualification from Group D was never going to be the easiest of tasks, especially for a team still learning the ropes within the competition.

Nevertheless, the fact that Roberto Mancini’s expensively assembled squad can’t muster a single victory is not only a testament to the opposition within their group, but also showcases the failings within the team.

Now it’s time to move on from the defeat and focus to the future. City face neighbours Manchester United on Sunday in a game that could easily sway the title in the favour of the victors. Those will be quick to remind others of the way the Citizens dismantled Sir Alex Ferguson’s side with minimal ease last year, securing a memorable 6-1 win at Old Trafford.

Mancini is going to have to utilise all of his managerial experience in order to boost the morale of his players, despite the Italian suggesting all is fine in the City camp. No matter what he says, the defeat in Germany would’ve hit them hard and it’s up to Mancini to pick them up and dust them down ready for the Manchester derby on Sunday. 

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