Nasri: The whole team are to blame for Man City’s defensive frailties

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri believes that the side have to improve their defensive record if they are to challenge for European honours, but insisted that it is the job of the whole team to defend better in order to take the heat off of the back four. City conceded twice against Viktoria Plzen last night, and former Arsenal midfielder Nasri told the Manchester Evening News that it is unsustainable to expect the side’s attacking players to compensate for defensive frailties. The French international also spoke about Joe Hart’s performance, saying that competition for places can only help the England number one.

“We are scoring a lot of goals but we cannot score four goals every game,” he said.

“We need to improve how we defend as a team. We conceded two goals. In the last game in the Champions League we conceded two as well and [against] Bayern Munich three.

“We need to improve, as a team, how to defend, especially in the Champions League. Then, if we can continue this form, it will be amazing.”

On the competition for places that has seen Hart dropped in favour of Costel Pantilimon, Nasri continued: ”That’s good. In every big club you have competition in your position. For me Joe Hart had a fine game with fine saves. It is good for him, it is good for his trust and for the whole team.”

Nasri scored City’s second goal last night, and was pleased to score on what was a landmark game for him:

“It is good to score, especially as it was my 100th game at Manchester City.

“But the most important thing was to win and finish with a win at home in this group stage, and be focused on Sunday’s game.”

“We are going to go there and try to win the game because we want to finish top of the group.

“The first objective was to go through the group stage because the last two years we struggled, but now we are going to go there and play without pressure.”