Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has called on his side to stick together after their last-gasp 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The Italian has also told his players not to criticise the team in public after goalkeeper Joe Hart said: "We can only blame ourselves."

"If anyone should criticise the team, I should criticise the team, not Joe Hart," Mancini said.

"Joe Hart should stay as goalie. I am the judge, not Joe Hart."

Hart's annoyance had come after City led 2-1 in Madrid with just a handful of minutes to go, only to be undone by a Karim Benzema equaliser and a Cristiano Ronaldo winner in the 90th minute.

"We dug deep, got a lead twice and we lost it, so we can only blame ourselves," Hart said in a post-match television interview.

"It's hard to come off the field after losing 3-2 and be positive.

I'm really sorry. We're not a team that should come here and pat ourselves on the back for doing well. We're a team that gets results."

Mancini admitted it was disappointing to lose from a winning position, saying: "It is difficult not because we lost - we can lose against a side like Real Madrid - but because with four minutes to go it was 2-1. This is strange. I think we need to improve this situation."

"In the first half, they played better than us but in the second half we played well and scored two goals.

"When you score two goals here and are 2-1, you should pay more attention."

City went out of the competition at the group stage last season and Mancini said they need to win their next game.

"We have five games left in the group and it is important we beat Borussia Dortmund at home next," he said.

"It will be difficult as they are a top team, but this year we want to go through."