Six things we learnt from Manchester City and Chelsea's poor performances in Europe

City left bottom of the group while Chelsea held by Slovenian minnows

The likes of Manchester City will surely improve (Getty Images)

Manchester City were left rock bottom of Group E after a terrible performance at home to CSKA Moscow, while Chelsea were held by lowly Maribor.

These two results, following on from Liverpool's surrender at Real Madrid and Arsenal's collapse at home to Anderlecht, made it a bad week for English clubs in Europe.

Here's a few observations from last night's matches.

1) Manchester City are too naive

This City team is now chock full of players who have experience at the highest level of the game, in the Champions League and at the World Cup; Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta even started in the Final in Brazil in the summer, while Sergio Aguero came off the bench.

But against CSKA they were drawn into silly fouls and reacted to purposeful attempts by the Russian side to wind them up. Yaya Toure came in for a couple of heavy-handed tackles, but to react and lash out at an opponent, while already down to 10 men, is plain stupid.

Both of Fernandinho's yellow cards were avoidable, while it was a lack of concentration by Demichelis that allowed Seydou Doumbia to open the scoring.

2) City are too attacking in the Champions League

You could again chalk this down to naivety but Manuel Pellegrini sent out a side that was far too attacking for a must-win game. City's win against Manchester United on Sunday was the first time they had won 1-0 since back in February, a scoreline like that wouldn't have been fun to watch but it would put City in a much stronger position in Group E.

Fernando was the sole holding midfielder last night but he was often overrun by a fierce CSKA counter-attack, too often Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta were caught high up the pitch, while Stevan Jovetic and Jesus Navas offered nothing defensively. This all happened with the score at 1-1 and destiny in their own hands; had they been a bit more patient and defensively sound City would likely have found a winner eventually.

Were City too attacking in this game? (Getty Images)

3) Jesus Navas needs to find an end product

On paper the Spaniard has a pretty decent record with six assists in his 16 appearances this season. However, for a team who attack as much as City - they have 31 goals already this season - perhaps the lightning quick winger should do more.

Two of those assists come in the 7-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, and he has just one in four Champions League matches. Navas was terrible at the Etihad, squandering great opportunities with some wayward crossing before rightly being hauled off at half-time.

4) Eden Hazard is getting the blame but he was Chelsea's best player

The Belgian missed a crucial penalty, as well as another good chance, that meant Jose Mourinho's team could only draw against Maribor.

But Hazard, remains Chelsea's most potent attacking threat, even if Diego Costa has been the man to get the headlines this season. The winger possesses a rapid turn of pace and otherworldly balance in a one-on-one situation with his defender. He may have missed his penalty (one of those efforts that looks genius when scored but poor when it goes in) but it was Hazard alone who won the spot-kick with some great skill.

5) Chelsea lack the killer mentality

Jose Mourinho has spoken about it at length this season, but Chelsea's ability to see off teams could end up costing them. If the players wanted an easy night on which to coast wouldn't it be easier to start quick, grab a couple of goals and see off the rest of the game?

Agim Ibraimi celebrates his curling goal in the 1-1 draw (AP)

Instead Chelsea were sloppy and only got motivated once they fell behind. Owing to their great start and unbeaten record the players perhaps think they are too good to be beaten; that might be right but they still have to win first. Sloppy effort and a failure to kill off teams have now cost them points against Schalke, Manchester City, Manchester United and Maribor.

6) Who plays on the right wing?

Chelsea have but one weak spot in their team and it came to the fore again in Slovenia. Andre Schurrle and Willian started on the wings and failed to create anything for Didier Drogba, before Mourinho took both men off at half-time.

Each player has played in a total of 14 matches for the Blues this season but can hardly be said to be making a meaningful contribution. While Hazard has five goals and two assists and Oscar has four goals and two assists, Schurrle and Willian have combine for just three goals and a single assist so far this season.

For a team that has been roundly praised for their brilliant attacking football this season, who ever plays on the opposite flank to Hazard is not pulling his weight.