Sky Sports expert reflects on the 1-1 draw with Roma
Wednesday 1 October 2014 09:53, UK
Glenn Hoddle says Manchester City are failing to learn their lessons in Europe and may now struggle to get out of their group.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have picked up just one point from their opening two Champions League fixtures this season, with Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at home to Roma coming on the back of a 1-0 defeat away at Bayern Munich.
Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero both started the game at the Etihad and Sky Sports expert Hoddle believes the Manchester City manager cannot afford to adopt such an attacking system in Europe if they want to climb into the top two in Group E - starting with the away trip to CSKA Moscow.
"It’s a body blow," he told Sky Sports' Champions League Goals show.
"They struggled tonight at home, but they have got to go away from home and get, I think, four points. They’ve got to get a win somehow away from home and maybe a point in Roma for them to come back.
"For me, at the moment, they do struggle in Europe. There’s a mental barrier there that they’ve got to pass. I notice they still play with two up. Maybe that's not a problem, but if you've got Toure in midfield in a four, you are going to be vulnerable.
"They created some chances and on another night they might have won that game, but Roma, for an away side, had too many chances.
"They have two up and don’t drop anybody in. They got outnumbered a few years back against Bayern and I don’t think they’ve learned their lesson."
Aguero's early spot-kick was cancelled out by Roma talisman Francesco Totti, but the home fans were screaming for a second penalty in the 38th minute when Konstantinos Manolas blocked a Jesus Navas pass with his arm inside the area.
Hoddle agrees the Premier League champions were on the wrong end of a bad decision and fears the referee was reluctant to award two penalties to the same team.
"A penalty is a penalty," he added.
"It doesn’t matter if there’s five in a game and I think this one was. He slid in and stopped the ball going to Aguero.
"It’s difficult when it’s someone closing you down from two yards and it’s in the air and hits your arm, but that one he was sliding in with his arm behind him.
"For me, it’s a penalty."