Mancini lays down the law

Roberto Mancini has told his Champions League flops they owe him "three big performances" ahead of Manchester City's do-or-die clash with Ajax on Tuesday night.

Mancini has already admitted City need "a miracle" to salvage their Group D campaign after taking just one point from their opening three games. The Italian reiterated after Saturday's bore draw at West Ham that the Barclays Premier League champions were "not ready" to be crowned kings of Europe.

But he insisted he would not tolerate them crashing out of the Champions League with a whimper for a second successive season. "You should play 100 per cent every game. It's normal, no?" he said. "We have three games. We have to think only about Ajax at this moment and we will see what happens."

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