David Silva has refused to accept Manchester City are out of the Champions League despite their 2-1 first-leg home defeat to Barcelona, and insists they can go through to the quarterfinals if they play as they did in the second half.
City went down two goals from Luis Suarez during a dismal opening half-hour for the hosts, but improved enough in the second half for Sergio Aguero to hit back, before a Gael Clichy red card disrupted their comeback.
Silva said they were simply too slow and failed to press in the first half, allowing Barca to play through them.
"Well, playing like we did in the second half [we can rescue the tie], yes," Silva said. "If you come out like that, we will have chances. If we come out like we did in the first half, we won't.
"In the first half, we weren't good, they were much better than us. But second half, until the red card, we were much better, we could have got back into the game, but after the red card we weren't like before.
"In the second half, we gave them more problems, and pressed much better."
The Spanish international pointed to a lapse in concentration that led to their poor first-half showing.
"They were much more cohesive than us on the pitch, picking up all the loose balls, and apart from that, until the goal we were in it but once they scored we were bad. Second half, though, we got better. We had chances to equalise but once the red card came, we couldn't do more.
"We didn't play in the first half in the way we'd like. In the second half, until the red card, we were alright and could have equalised. After that, against Barca, it's complicated.
"We came in at half-time and knew we weren't playing well. But the team knows how to figure things out, and in the end, one thing is that it could have been worse."
Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi won the Catalans a penalty in the dying minutes of the game, but could not convert from the spot -- something that Silva says has kept his side in the contest.
"Also, the penalty. With 2-1, we have some chance. At 3-1, it would have been much more difficult.
"We have to work to be like the start of the second half.
"It's a key moment now. We have a trip to Liverpool, who are also very difficult.
"If we play like we did in the second half, we can go through, but we have to get better in that respect."