Article

Mancini: City fighting for survival

6 November 2012 15:05

Roberto Mancini says Manchester City's Champions League clash with Ajax is their 'last chance' to stay alive in the competition.

Mancini's City side suffered defeat to Frank de Boer's men in the corresponding fixture last month and, having lost to Real Madrid and drawn at home against Borussia Dortmund, the Premier League champions are on the verge of elimination.

Despite Joleon Lescott and James Milner joining David Silva, Jack Rodwell and Maicon on the injury list for the visit of Ajax, Mancini insists that the fit members in his squad should be relishing the challenge of facing the Dutch champions.

"We have this problem with some important players injured but when you have this problem, it is a time that all the players can put more (effort in) on the pitch," Mancini told reporters.

"This is the last chance for us."

The Italian also reiterated his belief that his side are not equipped for Champions League success, citing it is only the club's second year in the elite club competition.

"For me, (managing in Europe) is the same," Mancini added. "But if I said we are ready to win the Champions League, this is not true. We need to improve.

"Probably there are other teams better than us in this competition because they have played every year in the Champions League."

Info

Manchester City

L W L W D

2 - 2

Ajax

W W W D W

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 2
Full-time: 2 - 2

Venue: Etihad Stadium (Manchester)
Attendance: 40222

Goals

	0 - 1	10' S. de Jong (assist by N. Moisander)
	0 - 2	17' S. de Jong (assist by C. Eriksen)
Y. Touré 22'	1 - 2
S. Agüero 74' (assist by M. Balotelli)	2 - 2

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	J. Hart
4	V. Kompany
22	G. Clichy
5	P. Zabaleta
33	M. Nastasić
8	S. Nasri
18	G. Barry
14	Javi García
42	Y. Touré	22'
32	C. Tévez
16	S. Agüero	74'
Coach: R. Mancini

#	Player	Bookings
1	K. Vermeer
4	N. Moisander
17	D. Blind	46'
3	T. Alderweireld
24	R. van Rhijn
5	C. Poulsen	85'
20	L. Schöne
10	S. de Jong	10' 17'
8	C. Eriksen
49	R. Babel
21	D. Boerrigter
Coach: F. de Boer

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
45	M. Balotelli for Javi García 46'
10	E. Džeko for C. Tévez 66'
13	A. Kolarov for G. Barry 85'
3	Maicon
30	C. Pantilimon
11	S. Sinclair
56	C. Meppen-Walters

#	Player	Bookings
6	E. Enoh for L. Schöne 78'
39	V. Fischer for C. Poulsen 87'
19	T. Sana for D. Boerrigter 90+3'
22	J. Cillessen
33	J. Veltman
34	S. Denswil
35	M. Dijks

Friday 24 May

08:56	Malaga win was catalyst, says Klopp
07:10	Milan finalise Zapata switch
07:01	Montella braced for Jovetic departure
06:20	Simeone will not block Falcao exit
05:58	Van Gaal talks down Netherlands´ chances
05:49	Coupet doubts Monaco´s potential
05:47	Man City edge Chelsea in thrilling friendly
05:41	Torres wants Mourinho at Chelsea
04:57	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Atletico Mineiro snatch late draw
04:49	Galliani dismisses Berlusconi row reports
04:37	San Lorenzo renew Coloccini pursuit
04:29	Benteke sparks fears of Villa exit
04:27	Weidenfeller: We can be heroes
04:18	Injured Messi called up by Argentina
04:13	Cleverley taking inspiration from Spain
03:16	Kellermann proud of resilient Wolfsburg
03:05	Robben hails dominant Germany
02:49	Europe the benchmark for Zaccheroni´s Japan
01:39	Osieck backs Schwarzer to shine

Thursday 23 May

23:59	Van der Gun shoots Utrecht to away win
23:39	Firmino double fires Hoffenheim to win
21:41	Davies hails ´great´ debut season
21:17	Foster happy with eighth-placed finish
20:15	Wickham eyeing first team
19:44	UEFA to announce Europa League incentive
19:31	Fonte looking to hit the ground running
19:21	Hodgson keen to hand Jones defensive role
18:43	Onuoha: Keep the faith with QPR owners
18:09	Karagounis praises Fulham fans
18:07	McDermott: Byram keen on Leeds stay
18:02	Martinez´s Wigan future to be decided next week
17:47	Rodriguez: I think I will leave Porto
17:44	Erbes ´relaxed´ ahead of Newell´s clash
17:20	CSL Preview: Shandong Luneng eye top spot
17:18	Kwakman to leave Groningen
16:45	Werder Bremen complete Petersen signing
16:28	Mancini Inter return is possible, says Moratti
16:20	Baines: Everton must progress without Moyes
16:07	Nicollin: Cabella worth 100 million euros
15:56	Demel proud of West Ham´s home record
15:49	Debuchy: Premier League is difficult
15:21	Pazzini to miss start of next season
15:09	Ferdinand extends Manchester United deal
14:23	Pulis thanks fans after Stoke departure
14:07	Berlin to host 2015 UEFA Champions League final
14:04	Werder face Dutt wait
13:43	Finke appointed Cameroon boss
13:38	Wilshere keen to improve after comeback season
13:08	Vieira excited by MLS franchise
13:04	Rodgers wants quick decision on Carroll future
12:55	Kagawa wants European success
11:21	Mata hopes for Mourinho arrival
10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Wednesday 22 May

20:56	Mourinho and Ronaldo given two-match bans
20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

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