Mancini: City will get better

Manchester CITY boss Roberto Mancini vowed to return stronger next year after his side’s maiden Champions League campaign ended at the group stage last night.

City produced their best European performance of the season as they overcame an albeitunder-strength Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium, but it was not enough to progress from Group A.

Napoli’s victory over Villarreal by the same scoreline in Spain rendered the result, meaningless and condemned City to the Europa League but Mancini took the setback in his stride.

City seem highly likely to qualify again next year and Mancini said: “It is my opinion that we need to improve as a squad to play better in the Champions League than this year. For us it will be important to improve in the next six months and try to win the Europa League.”

City took the lead with a fine David Silva strike after 36 minutes and Yaya Toure hit the second after starting and finishing a slick move in the 52nd minute.