“I am not so unhappy in the way we played because we didn’t have many chances to make substitutions”.
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“We have a fantastic squad and I think we were unlucky to be honest”, the Ivorian midfielder said.
The Brazil global has made a good start to life at Juventus Stadium, with three assists coming in his first nine games.
The Serie A champions, still unbeaten after five games, now top the group with 11 points and visit Sevilla in their final match.
“It’s part of football – to win, you have to score goals – but we missed chances and these things can happen”.
He said: “I’ve got to compliment the lads on going through with a game to spare in a very hard, if not the most hard, group in the Champions League – including Borussia Mönchengladbach, who had a great season in the Bundesliga previous year, City who have great quality, and the winners of the last two Europa Leagues, so a lot of credit must go to the lads”.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini had his hands tied by injuries, as highlighted by the presence of Pablo Maffeo, Tosin Adarabioyo and Bersant Celina on the bench.
“What’s important is that we won”.
Pellegrini said: “It’s a hard moment for the team”.
A Kevin De Bruyne corner was redirected on goal by Fernandinho, but a slight touch from Juventus’ veteran goalkeeper was enough to knock it off the post.
City was left to rue that missed opportunity as Juventus went straight down the other end and scored. Injury to their captain meant that Pellegrini’s men started without Vincent Kompany for the tenth time this season – and Mandzukic’s early goal, turning home Alex Sandro’s cross after some horrendously weak defending from Otamendi meant that they are yet to keep a single clean sheet in his absence.
From a position of strength at the top of the Premier League a week ago, Manchester City suddenly face a test of their staying power against Southampton on Saturday.
Sergio Aguero was gifted a chance just before the break when he pounced on a shocking back-pass by Claudio Marchisio but Gianluigi Buffon came off his line to narrow the angle and denied the City striker.
Alvaro Morata replaced Mandzukic on 54 minutes and moments later the Spaniard sent a chip towards the far post that Paulo Dybala turned onto the upright.
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The Spain forward could have sealed the match late on as he skipped past two opponents before unleashing an effort which Hart did well to save.
