Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini accepted it would take a “miracle” for his team to reach the Champions League knockout stages after Wednesday night’s costly defeat at Ajax.

The English champions were outplayed in Amsterdam as they surrendered a lead to slump to a 3-1 loss that left them bottom of Group D at its midway point.

City next face Ajax again at the Etihad Stadium in a fortnight before hosting Real Madrid and then travelling to Borussia Dortmund.

“It is very difficult to qualify now,” Mancini said. “It would be a miracle.”

Mancini sought to deflect attention from his under-performing players by blaming himself for the loss.

The Italian said: “It is my fault. I didn’t prepare well for the game and I take the blame.

“I thought in one way and it was different. When you prepare in one way and it is a different game, it is difficult.

“We had more chances to score and in the Champions League you need to score. It is my fault, I repeat.”

The City boss varied his tactics and formations throughout in search of the win his team needed to revive their Champions League campaign.

Mancini did not feel the changes of approach should have derailed his side.

He said: “We changed for five minutes to three at the back, but we always have 11 players.”

“I don’t think that is important – three, four, five, six or seven defenders.”