By MARTIN BLACKBURN
The Premier League champions have taken just one point from their opening two matches and face Ajax in Amsterdam tonight.
There have been 57 shots against City, 22 of them on target, in the games against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund — a Champions League record so far this season.
And the Italian fears City could face another ‘Group of Death’ next year unless they reach the knockout stages this time around and improve their ranking.
Mancini said: “We don’t have experience as a club but all of our players have Champions League experience.
“Maybe as a club we need more experience, but we have good players and that’s why we should be in the second stage.
“We want to play for a better seeding. We started the group so-so but still have a chance to go through and must take it.
“It is not easy because you need luck in this competition when you have the draw for the group.”
Mancini, though, insists he is not worried his England No 1 Joe Hart has been peppered with so many shots.
He added: “It is better that we don’t concede a lot of shots but we played against Real in Madrid, so it is difficult not to concede chances.
“We had a bad game against Dortmund, but it is important we do not give away so many chances.”
Defeat against a relatively inexperienced Ajax team will leave City’s Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
But Mancini said: “We have to think about winning this game in Holland.
“It has been frustrating so far, but we should continue our way and, if we do, we will win.”
Edin Dzeko has given Mancini a real striking dilemma following his brilliant cameo in Saturday’s 2-1 win at West Brom.
The Bosnian came on as a substitute and scored twice but still has the likes of Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli in his way.
Mancini added: “It is always difficult. When you have four strikers like Mario, Sergio, Carlos and Edin, you cannot play them all.
“Dzeko was fantastic against West Brom. It is impossible that one player will be happy when he is on the bench — I have never known this.”
Skipper Vincent Kompany has called on his team-mates to summon up the spirit they showed at the weekend and save their Champions League skins.
City are starting to motor at home and fought back from a goal down with 10 men to win at the Hawthorns.
Now Kompany wants to see some of the qualities which have served City so well in England on display on the continent.
The Belgian centre-half said: “We are a very disciplined team and have always shown an ability to react.
“Wednesday is a different game, a different set-up and it’s important for us to win.
“When it comes to character, spirit and strength to overturn situations, there is no such thing as a one-man team.
“It’s a very tough group, we always knew that. There are no easy games and it’s very tight but it makes it more exciting.”
City have won just one of four Champions League away games and really need to change that at the Amsterdam ArenA.
Kompany added: “The past is irrelevant. We will go into the game hoping to win, as we always do.
“We still think we have a big chance and are capable of winning every game.”
