Manchester City have seen their chances of progressing through to the knockout stages of the Champions League hit after they fell to a 2-1 defeat to CSKA Moscow at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Citizens lie bottom of Group E on just two points, and are one of just seven teams who are yet to record a win in Europe this season.
City lost to the Russian side after a first half brace from Ivorian international Seydou Doumbia, despite his fellow countryman Yaya Toure equalising for the home side after the visitors had gone ahead.
To add to City’s misery, they had Fernandinho sent off on the hour mark, after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, despite only having come on at half-time. City and their fans will feel that referee Tasos Sidiropolous did CSKA a favour after the Greek booked Sergei Ignashevich instead of Pontus Wernbloom, who would then have been sent off.
The hosts ended the night with nine men on the field after Toure was deservedly dismissed for a reckless push to the face on Roman Eremenko.
Manuel Pellegrini has been left dumbfounded by his teams European performances, saying: “It is a crisis of confidence and we must find out why by talking to the players every day,” said the Chilean.
“We must try to find out what happens with this team in the Champions League. These players are important players so I don’t understand why they cannot play in the Champions League.
“You can never imagine you are out when the maths says you are still in. We must try to work hard and get back to our normal style of play.”
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