Bayern Munich 2 Manchester City 3: James Milner admits to goal-difference mix-up with Manchester City not knowing they needed just one more goal to top Group D

Winger was as confused with the permutations as his manager

James Milner applauds the fans after Manchester City's 3-2 win at Bayern Munich (GETTY IMAGES)

James Milner has admitted that Manchester City did not realise they needed only one more goal against Bayern Munich to top their group. In his post-match television interview the City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, said he would have introduced Sergio Aguero had they scored a fourth. He did not appear to realise that a fourth goal would have been enough for City to avoid one of the big beasts of European football in February’s knockout stages.

Milner, who scored the third to give City a wildly-improbable 3-2 win, admitted: “We knew roughly. We didn’t know if 4-2 would be enough or if we would need 5-2. We thought it needed to be 5-2 to be honest. We are slightly disappointed we did not finish top of the group but to be slightly disappointed at beating Bayern Munich on their own ground is pretty pleasing.”

This was, nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s first defeat at Bayern Munich.