Mangala warns Man City they must cut out errors if they want to thrive in Champions League



Mangala and Kevin De Bruyne look dejected after the Champions league defeat to Juventus



ELIAQUIM MANGALA has warned Manchester City they must come to terms with the step up in standard in the Champions League and cut out moments of complacency if they are to finally thrive in the competition.

 

The France defender accepted City were architects of their own downfall in Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Juventus as a combination of poor finishing and lapses in concentration conspired against Manuel Pellegrini's side.

The Italians feasted on City's frailties to secure a come-from-behind success at The Etihad with Mangala undone by Paul Pogba's searching pass in the build-up to Mario Mandzukic's equaliser. A mistake from Alexsandar Kolarov then enabled Alvaro Morata to claim the winning goal with nine minutes remaining.

 

City have won five out of five in the Premier League to sit resplendent at the summit, but Mangala said errors that go unpunished domestically are seized upon in Europe.

"The Champions League is decided on small margins, on one or two balls," said the centre-back.

"We were controlling the game, and then on those two balls we conceded twice. At this level, you

can't concede goals like that.

 

"They have a quality team, and we paid for [our mistakes] right away.

"It's obvious that we didn't do well, but it's not over, there are some games left. So we must refocus. But in the Champions League, we shouldn't be as relaxed as we were in those kind of situations.

"In the Premier League, you're allowed a bit more... I won't say mistakes... but you can have some moments when you are a bit less focused. That is not possible in the Champions League."

The assessment from captain Vincent Kompany, who has allayed fears over his fitness, was more upbeat despite City failing to win their first home group game for the fifth successive season.

 

Eliaquim Mangala has said City must cut out their errors if they are to progress in Europe

"There's no problem after this defeat," he said. "I'm less worried than in the previous years. It was not a panic game and we didn't have the feeling that we didn't know what to do.

"We just played against a tough opponent, the finalist of last season. They were very efficient. They buried the game in a very good way. We were a bit unlucky, but are still confident for what's coming."

City travel to Borussia Monchengladbach in their next game on September 30 and for now the focus switches back to the Premier League and Saturday's tussle with West Ham.

Kompany was replaced by debutant Nicolas Otamendi with 15 minutes remaining against Juventus when the scores were 1-1 due to a calf problem, but he said: "It's fine. I came off as a precaution."