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Mancini upset at Euro exit

SoccerNews in English Premier League 4 Dec 2012

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Roberto Mancini has hit out at Manchester City’s inability to qualify for the Europa League after Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

A second-half strike from Julian Schieber was enough to see off the Premier League champions, who finished bottom of Champions League Group D without a win and with three points from six games.

Mancini insisted that he told his team to go out and win and ensure they remain in Europe
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an competition in the New Year.

“Yeah, we wanted this (to qualify for the Europa League) but we have to score.” Mancini told Sky Sports.

“Tonight we tried but we are missing more players. We had chances but in this moment we can’t score, if you don’t score it’s difficult to win.”

Elimination from Europe could be a blessing in disguise with City currently three points behind rivals Manchester United as they attempt to defend their Premier League title but, when put to Mancini, the Italian was keen to focus on an underwhelming Champions League campaign.

He added: “In this moment we cannot think about this, we should think that we are not in the Europa League and for this we should be disappointed.

“Clearly, this can help us for the Premier League because we don’t play in the Europa League but we want to play in it, it was our target tonight.”

Mancini highlighted the improvement of opponents Borussia Dortmund in this season’s competition from last year and drew comparison with his own side, adding that City side can make a fresh impression next term.

“Champions League is really difficult and strange,” he added.

“Borussia Dortmund went out of the group last year in fourth position like us, and this season they can win the competition.”

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp believes that his side’s ability to stifle Manchester City was the key to their win.

“I’m sure that City would have been capable of playing better if we had given them more room. We were really on top of things and didn’t allow them too many clear-cut chances,” he told reporters.

“It was a great game and I’m really happy about it. The fans were great too and appreciated our performance.”

Meanwhile, Schieber is happy to have contributed to the team’s success as BVB rounded off an unbeaten group-stage campaign.

“I’m very happy that I managed to score my first Champions League goal. Our squad consists of 21 players and we can all contribute to the success.

“We are very satisfied with this victory,” he said.

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