‘SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH’

Arteta hits out at City’s performance following defeat to Lyon

MANCHESTER City were devoid without Pep Guardiola on Wednesday as his deputy branded them ‘not good enough’ after a shock defeat by Lyon.

The suspended Guardiola watched from the stands as his side got off to the worst possible start in the Champions League under Mikel Arteta.

Goals by Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir leave City bottom of Group F but Arteta refused to make excuses.

“At this level, it’s not good enough,” Arteta said. “We lost many duels and you pay the price. We gave the ball away in the build-up in difficult circumstances and they took advantage. We were not consistent.

“It was (surprising) but they’re not perfect. Sometimes they have good days and sometimes bad days. Sometimes they are silk and sometimes they are not. We felt under threat every time we lost the ball.

“I won’t judge the players just because we lost. You have to judge many other things during the game and they know that already.”

Arteta also shot back at suggestions City failed because of Guardiola’s absence: “I have no idea. That’s something hypothetical. The reality is that Pep wasn’t here and we lost the game. I have no idea if we’d win the game 5-0 if he was.

“I wouldn’t like to use the (small) crowd as an excuse. We had this type of crowd before and played well. I’d like it full and everyone supporting the team like crazy. It didn’t happen but it isn’t an excuse.”

Bernardo Silva got a goal back after half-time and Arteta believes City ought to have been awarded at least one penalty for a trip on Gabriel Jesus.

In contrast to their stunning domestic form, City have now lost their last four Champions League games.

A decade into their stewardship, winning the competition for the first time may remain the holy grail for City’s Abu Dhabi owners.

But it seems City’s fans still need to be convinced with plenty of empty seats dotted around the Etihad and the Champions League anthem again booed before kick-off.

That flat atmosphere transferred into a City first-half display riddled with uncharacteristic errors.

Lyon have won just two of their opening five Ligue 1 matches of the season, but pounced on City’s sloppiness.

“We need to be capable of repeating this performance in order to fulfil the objectives we have,” said Lyon coach Bruno Genesio.

“The end of the game was tougher as they brought it back to 2-1 and brought on talented players. I suffered as I was scared they’d score a second goal.

“We would have taken 2-2 before the match but given the way the game went we’d have been disappointed not to leave with the three points.”