Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that the Europa League is an important competition for the club after their Champions League exit.
The Blues have been knocked out at the group stage, despite a 2-0 win at home to Bayern Munich.
Their elimination means that they will now enter the Thursday night tournament.
"Our lives aren't finished now, we will go into the Europa League and it is an important trophy for Manchester City," Mancini told Sky Sports News. "We will be back and we hope for better next year.
"Maybe now we think that the Europa League is not important but if you arrive in the final it is very important. I've never won the Europa League.
"We are a good team and we are sorry for our supporters and my players who deserve to play in the Champions League. But we need to improve. We got the hardest group, we knew that before the start. Congratulations to Napoli."
City next take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Monday.
Jack Prescott
