Man City will bounce back in UCL

The City boss has admitted it will require a miracle for his expensively-assembled side to reach the Champions League knockout stage after losing to Ajax midweek.

Its 3-1 defeat in Amsterdam leaves the reigning English Premier League champion with only one point from three games, a point most observers could reasonably put down to outrageous good fortune as it somehow managed a draw against Borussia Dortmund after losing to Real Madrid in the Bernabeu.

But City will leapfrog second-placed Manchester United, who is away to leader Chelsea on Sunday (3.00am Monday AEDT), if it makes it four domestic wins in a row on Saturday (3.30am Sunday AEDT) against a Swansea side which has tasted victory once in six league games.

And Mancini is urging his side not to let its European misery disrupt its defence of the league title.

"When you play an important game and you lose, you are disappointed and I'm disappointed like all my players," said the Italian.

"Maybe now it's difficult to go through but we have an important season and, if we are like this after one defeat, then we're really weak.

"But I don't think this. It is the second season we have played Champions League. We need to improve but the games are the same. I think we're strong enough (to bounce back)."

City must win its remaining three group games at home to Ajax (November 6), Real Madrid (November 21) and away to Borussia Dortmund (December 4) to stand any chance of going through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

Defender Micah Richards questioned the tactics against Ajax but Mancini responded: "We work every day on tactical situations.

"All the players know this system. We conceded a third goal because we did a stupid mistake - not because we changed the system.

"Yes (good players should be able to play in any system)."

On mid-table Swansea, Mancini said: "They are a good team. Last year, did a fantastic season - they played very well.

"This year, they change the system and play with a different system but continue to play very well. It will be a difficult game, like all the games we play here."

Midfielders David Silva (hamstring), Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Javier Garcia (thigh) are all absent. Defender Maicon (foot) is also out along with Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring).