Man City labelled an 'amateur team' in brutal blast as De Bruyne warning sent

Manchester City's defence has been called out ahead of their Champions League opener with Napoli urged to take advantage when they and Kevin De Bruyne take on the Premier League side

Manchester City have been told they are "almost an amateur team" as they adapt to a new-look defence, with Paolo Di Canio insisting teams always feel like they can score against Pep Guardiola's side. The Premier League side begin their Champions League effort against Napoli on Thursday.

City, winners of the Champions League in 2023, have won two and lost two of their four games this season but both Tottenham and Brighton were able to score twice against them en route to victory.

The heart of Guardiola's defence has remained the same with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol at centre-half. However Abdukodir Khusanov filled in at right-back during the Manchester derby with youngster Nico O'Reilly at left-back. Rayan Ait-Nouri was a summer arrival but Di Canio is confident Napoli can get at their backline.

He told Il Mattino: "This is a great opportunity and we need to seize it immediately. From what we’ve seen in the first few games, they’re in disarray at the back. They’ve brought in a lot of new players, and when they lose the ball, they’re almost an amateur team. Before, anyone who went to play against City respected them, but now, even if City are up 3-0, everyone knows they can recover."

The vastly experienced Rodri was critical after City's loss at Brighton and admitted they were making unnecessary mistakes. He said: “It is a matter of the team and the changes, new players have to adapt and, of course, when you change the team that much it is difficult. But some of the mistakes we are making are kids’ mistake

Napoli's attack is now being spearheaded by Kevin De Bruyne, who called time on his decade in Manchester back in the summer. He was hugely influential in the final third for City but will now be providing opportunities for the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and David Neres.

City winger Jeremy Doku said this week: “I think he will be happy to come home. At the end of the day, we’re not going to show mercy; we want to win every game. So I hope he enjoys coming here, back. We’re just going to recover very well and we’re going to be prepared.”

City's defence is now being marshalled by new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who joined from PSG on deadline day. He kept a clean sheet on his debut and will likely continue at the team's new No 1, eyeing successive Champions League titles with different clubs.

Napoli are yet to make a major impact on the Champions League but Antonio Conte invested heavily in the summer in a bid to ensure the Italian champions would be a force on the continental stage. Di Canio himself backing them to advance to the knockouts.

He said: “I’d say Napoli doesn’t have the calibre to contend for the Champions League, but the path they’re on can certainly help. The single group stage is absolutely within the Azzurri’s reach, and they have to get through it.”

Serie A have had a Champions League finalist in two of the past three seasons - Inter Milan on both occasions. Napoli have been handed a favourable set of fixtures in Europe with City and Chelsea their two most challenging fixtures.