After Manchester City rescued a 1-1 Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund on a late penalty kick, Coach Roberto Mancini gave a blunt assessment.
“If we want toplay in the Champions League we have to play better,” he said. “We have to run and fight. It’s not enough to just pass. Champions League is another situation — different from the championship.”
City has just one point from two matches after Mario Balotelli converted a penalty kick awarded when a shot struck Borussia defender Neven Subotic on the arm.If not for several incredible saves by keeper Joe Hart, City would be at the bottom of a brutal group that also includes Real Madrid and Ajax.
“I think that Joe saved us.He did very, very well,” said Mancini. “We deserved to concede three or four goals. We didn’t play well. We didn’t play well because Borussia Dortmund played better than us. They probably, at thismoment, are a better team than us. If we want to play in the Champions League we have to play better.”