‘Toughest group of all’ for City

Manchester City face the mother of all battles to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League after being drawn in the toughest of the groups in Europe’s top club competition.

Patrick Vieira, City’s director of football development, admitted: “You can’t get much worse than that,” after Roberto Mancini’s men were drawn against Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund.

Group D looks a throwback to the days of the old European Cup — it will pit the English champions against the champions of Spain, Germany and Holland.