David Silva says crashing out of the Champions League has had a massive impact on the confidence of his Manchester City teammates.
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The Premier League champions failed to come through a group containing Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Amsterdam.
It was the second time in two years the club has faltered at the group stages of the European Cup and Silva feels that disappointment has had a knock-on effect.
Silva told The Sun: "To go out of the Champions League was terrible. It's a real pain and has damaged us a lot.
"The dressing room was a very unhappy place after the Real game and in our two games since, at Chelsea and Wigan, it has been very hard to recover our morale.
"It wasn't only the coach Roberto Mancini who was sad.
"For instance, after our defeat by Ajax in Amsterdam I saw a lot of broken people in that dressing room. That was a hard night. Little things cost us in Europe.
"We so nearly beat Real Madrid, for instance. All the squad was dreaming of a big season in Europe and now we are unhappy after stumbling for the second successive year."
However, with no Champions League to contest, Silva feels City can focus all their efforts on retaining their Premier League title, although he knows just how hard that will be.
He added: "But being KO'd from the Champions League has increased our efforts to win the Premier League again, although I must say because everyone wants to beat us we have to work so hard and it is difficult to maintain a constant rhythm."
He concluded: 'Personally I am content with my performances but I accept they are not quite at the same level as in the key moments of last season.
"Mancini offers good strategy and is also a big psychologist. His contact with the players is so important."
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