We’ll make up for Euro woe

BACK TO BASICS ... defender Lescott says City must avoid a Euro hangover in the Prem

JOLEON LESCOTT insists Manchester City’s European nightmare will not de-rail their title defence at home.

The England defender says the Etihad squad are mystified as to why they have struggled so much in the Champions League.

But he says they must put Wednesday’s disastrous 3-1 defeat at Ajax behind them and turn up the heat on leaders Chelsea this weekend.

The champions remain unbeaten in the Premier League and can go within a point of the top by beating Swansea on Saturday.

Chelsea then face Manchester United on Sunday.

Lescott said: “It’s hard to put your finger on why it isn’t working in Europe but we can’t let it affect our league form.

“We haven’t done so far and we won’t do on Saturday. Swansea will be a very different game.

We’re at home so we’ll look to dictate that game and create some more chances.

Last season’s success was built on a strong defence with Lescott and skipper Vincent Kompany the cornerstones.

This season boss Roberto Mancini has tinkered with it and it does not seem to have worked, particularly in Europe.

Lescott added: “We were good last year and didn’t concede many goals. We got a lot of plaudits so it’s only fair that we get critisism now because we are conceding more goals.

“But as a team we are not overly-enthusiastic about the way things are going but we are getting
there.

“It’s been a slowish start to the season but we are in the top three of the Premier League and still in with a chance of qualifying for the next stage of this.”

Boss Mancini feels it is only a per cent chance of making the Champions League knock-out stages after City took just one point from their opening three matches.

That leaves them bottom of Group D — six points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund and five adrift of second-placed Real Madrid.

And Lescott added: “Three wins from the last three is the only option now. It’s going to be hard but two of those at home and maybe that will give us chance to impose ourselves on the oppposition.”

England team-mate Gareth Barry apologised for City’s below par showing in Holland.

He said: “If we have let the fans down in any way, we are sorry but we have two home games and one away and we need their support. There is an outside chance still.”