This disastrous defeat in Amsterdam pushed City one step closer to the Champions League exit door and saw Mancini's tactical competence called into question.
The Premier League champions had led through Samir Nasri but ended up being comprehensively defeated and looked like a side with no identity or clear tactical plan.
Mancini faced huge criticism for an unusual decision to switch to a three-man central defence with the game still in the balance - that included a confused-looking Gael Clichy playing as a centre-back - a move that backfired as Ajax scored a decisive third goal, prompting the manager to swiftly change back to his original system.
After the match, Micah Richards added salt in the Italian's wounds by telling the press that the players did not practice the tactical switches in training and that many were not sure of what they were doing in their new roles.
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