Ilkay Gundogan blames 'mental issue' for Manchester City's latest Champions League setback

Defeat to Juventus in Turin means English champions have won just once in their previous 10 games

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan, right, look dejected during their Champions League defeat at Juventus on Wednesday night. PA

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan admitted the English Champions were fragile and low on confidence after a 2-0 defeat to Juventus left them languishing in the lower reaches of the Champions League table.

What started as a blip has grown into a mid-season crisis with City now having won just once in their previous 10 games. Their latest setback arrived on Wednesday night in Turin as Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie struck in the second half to leave City down in 22nd place in the Champions League table with just eight points from their six games.

Guardiola's side had travelled to Italy knowing they would likely need to win all three of their remaining fixtures in the league phase to finish in the top eight and progress automatically for the knockouts. Defeat has left them five points off the top eight with six left to play for, meaning progress via the play-offs is now their most realistic route.

The sides finishing from ninth to 24th will go on to face a two-legged tie in February for a place in the last 16. City are just a point above Paris Saint-Germain and make the trip to the French capital on January 22 for a pivotal clash. And, although they complete their group campaign with a favourable home game against Club Brugge, they find themselves in a position few would have expected at the start of the season.

"It's very disappointing. We had chances to score a few goals but at the moment it feels like every attack we concede is just so dangerous," Gundogan, who has struggled for form since returning to the club in the summer, told TNT Sports after defeat at the Juventus Stadium.

"I don't know, I have a feeling sometimes we are a bit careless with duels, instead of playing simple we overcomplicate things and we missed the right timing to release the ball. Just lose the ball and give them counter attacks. We are built for possession, keep the ball, be strong, if you can't do anything don't lose it. At the moment it's not working out for us."

Asked if they were low on confidence, he said: "It's a big part of it and obviously that's a mental issue as well. You can see that. We sometimes, one action we miss the ball, lose a duel and you see that we drop immediately, lose the rhythm, they are able to break our rhythm with the easiest of things. They don't even need to do much.

"You have to do the simple things as good as possible. Work hard again, this is how you get confidence back, even in the game if you miss something, by doing small and simple things you get confidence back. At the moment we are always doing the wrong things.

"I feel like we know exactly what's going wrong. If you look at the most part of games, even today, we actually didn't play bad. [We] created chances, just missed to score, in these kind of games if you give away one chance it's not easy to bounce back."

Barcelona and Arsenal looking good for last 16

Barcelona are second in the standings with 15 points, behind only Liverpool, after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a five-goal thriller in Germany, with Ferran Torres' brace getting them over the line.

Raphinha fired Barca ahead with his 17th goal of the season early on in a breathless second half. Serhou Guirassy equalised with a penalty on the hour mark, but substitute Torres put Barca back in front on 75 minutes, converting the loose ball after Fermin Lopez's shot was saved.

Guirassy scored again for a quick equaliser, only for Torres to strike once again and win the game for Barca with five minutes left.

Barcelona's tally leaves them ideally placed to finish in the top eight, which means direct progress to the last 16.

“The win is very special. We knew that there was a lot at stake for both teams. If you win you take a big step towards the next round. We want to be in the top eight," said Barca boss Hansi Flick. “He [Ferran] is a fast player, he has scored in the last three games. The second goal was not easy. I am very happy with him, he has a very positive mentality and a great attitude.”

Arsenal are third in the standings on 13 points after easing to a 3-0 win over Monaco at the Emirates Stadium. Bukayo Saka scored twice, putting the Gunners ahead in the first half and making it 2-0 on 78 minutes as the hosts pounced on disastrous Monaco defending.

Saka then turned provider for the late third, with substitute Kai Havertz applying the final touch.

"He looks really mature," Arteta said of Saka. "What he has already done in the game at his age is incredible. Very humble, a great guy to have around and an incredible talent. He's a special person. In his role, his leadership is increasing. With the young kids he is amazing, with the seniors he is amazing. He is loved by everybody and he makes the difference on the pitch."