Europe has found City out, admits Barry

Gareth Barry believes that Manchester City’s players have been “found out” in the Champions League this season and just a solitary point from three games would suggest the midfielder is spot on.

The Premier League champions face Ajax tonight just two weeks after slumping to a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture in Amsterdam, their second group defeat after a dramatic opening loss against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu.

City’s only point came at home to Borussia Dortmund last month when they claimed a 1-1 draw despite being outplayed by the German champions.

That has led to Barry’s damning verdict of the campaign so far as they look to pull off what his manager, Roberto Mancini, claimed would be a “miracle” by winning their final three games and getting into the last 16.

“It is quite clear that we have not produced our best performances against the quality of opposition that are in the Champions League and when it comes to these games when you’re not producing your best, you get found out — that seems to be what has happened,” explained Barry.

“It is a step up, to be honest, from the Premier League, you’re playing top teams every week in the Champions League. You know what you will face in the Champions League, it is going to be a real high standard and a different style of football. We need to adapt to that a little bit better.

“If you don’t perform to the height of your abilities, then you do get found out, as we have seen.”

While Mancini consistently puts their torrid Champions League record down to inexperience in the competition, Barry refuses to use it as an excuse as he remains upbeat about making the knockout stages despite their precarious position in Group D.

He added: “The club is still inexperienced when it comes to challenge in the Champions League as well as trying to win the Premier League. Hopefully the quicker the club can combine that, the better for everyone at City.

“As players we can’t use that as an excuse. These group of players have been together for two years and maybe you can look into that a bit. We’re certainly not using that as the main excuse. My reason is that we have not performed to the best of our abilities and we have been found out.

“While it is still possible to qualify, that is our aim — starting against Ajax we are going to try for three points and go from there.”

Barry, however, has little time for suggestions that there are ego clashes in the dressing room that could be affecting team spirit or performances.

He said: “Ever since this club went through the change, it has had that thrown at it.

“The big names have come in and whenever there are a few negative results, these things are thrown at the players — egos, people can’t get on and whatever.

“But inside the dressing room we are close. We will put that right and make people quiet with performances and that is our target.”

Barry knows City have to throw caution to the wind against Ajax.

He said: “We have home advantage and we have to make that pay.

“We need to start the game like we started the second half over there. We had a good 10-15 minutes before they got the second goal.

“We have to start like that and keep it up for the full 90 minutes. It is going to be a different game.”

For his part, Ajax coach Frank de Boer has warned City that his side are equally hungry for three points.

De Boer said: “We want to be in the Champions League after the winter break as well.

“All the teams in this group do, and of course they want to have the nine points out of the three coming matches. We will give it a go to try to get a result here. Some of these teams will lose points and we will know who at the end of the match.”

City might need to throw caution to the wind but De Boer has no intention of telling his side to sit back to soak up pressure.

The former Netherlands defender said: “We are not going to throw it open but it is not our way to play defensively.

“We want to show the way we play at Ajax, whether it is at home or away.”