Manchester City v Ajax: Five things we learnt about City's Champions League draw with Ajax Just like Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the past, City have a psychological hold on many of their domestic rivals, but Europe's heavyweights are not paralysed by fear when they face Mancini's men. Ajax highlighted this in Amsterdam and last night they once again had the confidence to play on the front foot and trust their ability on the ball. So accustomed to teams sitting back and defending in numbers, City were faced with a different challenge and they lacked the subtlety, craft and guile to make their individual talents work collectively. City's power overwhelms opponents in England, but Ajax's passing ability countered the home side's trump card. Roberto Mancini has told us on numerous occasions that he is the manager most likely to get the best out of Mario Balotelli because he is the only one who understands the forward's complex character. That line is beginning to wear thin, though, because the pair's relationship appears as healthy as a married couple outside the divorce courts. Cesare Prandelli, the Italy manager, suggested he has far better control of Balotelli, however, by coaxing a series of excellent performances from the player at Euro 2012. Within minutes of being introduced as a half-time substitute, Balotelli made a huge difference to City with his touch, pace and vision enlivening their attacking play. If Mancini truly is able to get the best out of him, he must start to show it because he is allowing a proven match-winner to waste too much time sat on the bench. Perhaps Roberto Mancini has a point when he talks of Manchester City, as a club, lacking the European experience required to succeed in the Champions League. That observation certainly applies to the crowd at the Etihad Stadium, who sat in silence as their team attempted to fight back from two goals down. Even after Yaya Toure's first-half scissor-kick had given City hope, the muted home supporters continued to be outsung by the 3,000 Ajax fans. Does this actually matter? Does the noise of supporters really make a difference? Those who have experienced Anfield or Old Trafford on European nights, when Liverpool and Manchester United have been carried over the line, will tell you that the 12th man makes all the difference. City cannot yet draw on the same support. Even those close to Roberto Mancini concede that the City manager would not win many popularity contests within the dressing-room, but regardless of the lack of affection towards the Italian, his players showed again that they have a good collective spirit. This may even be achieved in spite of Mancini's contribution, rather than because of it, but against Ajax, City fought back from two goals down to draw the game and could even have gone on to win it. The refusal to be beaten saw City overturn Manchester United's eight-point lead to win the title last season and it has resurfaced in dramatic late comebacks against Borussia Dortmund and West Bromwich Albion this term. City have become the new United in the way that they are always likely to score or save a game in the dying seconds and that is a tribute to the players on the pitch.