Manchester City first-team coach David Platt has defended manager Roberto Mancini after the club’s Champions League frustration continued in mid-week.

The English champions are currently third in the English Premier League ahead of Sunday’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur at home.

But once again they have struggled in Europe and have just two points from their four matches, leaving them little chance of progressing to the knock-out stages for the first time.

Mancini showed his frustration when he confronted referee Peter Rasmussen after the 2-2 draw with Ajax and also remonstrated with a cameraman.

But Platt, who was standing in for Mancini at the club’s pre-match media conference, insisted the Italian was justified in his actions.

“The referee allows a free-kick to go into the box, there is a header that goes down and the camera angles show it is a clear penalty. Why wouldn’t the manager of a football club be frustrated? Why wouldn’t we all be frustrated?” Platt said.

“Players are frustrated, supporters are frustrated, staff are frustrated. Robbie (Mancini) has gone on to the pitch and spoken to the referee. As he comes back, he turns around and has a camera in front of his face for 30 yards.

“He turns around and speaks in English and says, in English, that basically it is enough now. People then want to start talking about what has happened and almost exaggerating the incident.”

As City’s Champions League campaign has sputtered, Mancini has faced accusations that his players are unhappy with his tactics.

The Italian has always insisted there are no problems within his squad and Platt maintains there is no point in City complaining about the way they are perceived.

He is also adamant that Mancini would be wrong to attempt to dim his passion on the sidelines, expressing astonishment at how the situation had been exaggerated.