Lescott: It’s out of City hands now

MANCHESTER CITY defender Joleon Lescott admits the club’s first Champions League campaign is proving a tough learning curve.

City’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage are now out of their hands after a shattering 2-1 loss at Napoli. Roberto Mancini’s men have now fallen behind the Italians into third in Group A and need a huge turnaround in fortunes in the final round of fixtures to progress.

City must beat group winners Bayern Munich, to whom they have already lost, at the Etihad Stadium and hope eliminated Villarreal can collect their first point of the competition against Napoli.

England international Lescott said: “It is out of our hands now but we have got to focus on that Bayern game, to do our part. We know it is a must-win.”

Lescott’s defensive partner Vincent Kompany, the City captain, bemoaned City’s luck in the Champions League.

The Belgian said: “We were in by far the hardest group of this Champions League. That is the reason why we are still fighting for this — it is a tough group.”

City have grown used to dominating after scoring 42 goals in 12 games to top the Premier League but a different approach may be needed in Europe.

Lescott said: “We are disappointed to concede two goals, that is unlike us. Sometimes we need to be hard to beat.”

City now switch their attention back to matters at home with a testing trip to Liverpool on Sunday followed by a Carling Cup quarter-final at Arsenal next week. Midfielder James Milner said: “We need to make sure we pick ourselves up and go again on Sunday.”