Gareth Barry wants Europa League success

Barry: 'The 30-year-old England international said: "The players here are hungry to win trophies and if that is the Europa League then we are going to get up for it' (AP)

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry claims his team-mates will not have difficulty motivating themselves for the Europa League.

City dropped into the second-tier European competition as their maiden Champions League campaign came to an end last night.

Goals from David Silva and Yaya Toure gave Roberto Mancini's men a comfortable 2-0 win over an under-strength Bayern Munich at the Etihad Stadium but Napoli's defeat of Villarreal left them third in Group A.

The outcome was an undoubted blow for the ambitious club, who have been outstanding on the domestic front this season, but Barry believes winning the Europa League would still represent success.

The 30-year-old England international said: "The players here are hungry to win trophies and if that is the Europa League then we are going to get up for it.

"We have got a squad here that can hopefully compete throughout the whole season in all competitions.

"The manager said afterwards he wants to win it so I am sure he will be putting teams out to win the games."

Despite that, Barry admitted there was no hiding from the disappointment of Champions League elimination.

City may have played with the verve that has helped them establish a five-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League last night, but the damage was done earlier in the campaign.

Defeats away to Bayern and Napoli, and a home draw with the Italians, proved costly and City knew their hopes were slim prior to their final fixture.

Barry said: "Obviously, no matter how you go out you have still gone out.

"We got our job done [last night] but it is always tough mentally to put in a professional performance when it is out of your hands.

"At the end of the second half the atmosphere dropped.

"You could tell the fans were getting frustrated at a 2-0 performance - so you knew what was happening.

"This time it wasn't to be and we look back on a couple of games against Napoli that probably let us down in the end."

Barry still feels the team acquitted themselves well in arguably the toughest group in the competition and is convinced they will come back stronger next year.

As the Premier League title favourites, having scored 48 goals in their opening 14 games, City seem well on course to qualify again.

Barry said: "It is a big disappointment because we have got the capabilities to have gone through, we know that.

"But it was the club's first time in the competition and we have to remember that.

"We have also reached 10 points, which is normally what clubs target to go through.

"We gave it a great go and this time it was not enough. It was a tough group but we will learn from it."

PA