Tyrone Mings admitted Aston Villa came off second best as they fell to a 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Monaco.
Wilfried Singo’s eighth-minute header proved the difference at the Stade Louis-II as Villa fell to only the second defeat of our European campaign this term.
And a disappointed Mings was honest in his post-match reflections, stressing “we have to be better”.
“Frustrating,” said the centre-back.
“Football’s a very simple game and we weren’t good enough.
“It definitely wasn’t a lack of effort, we have no excuses. I gave a poor ball away leading to the corner, didn’t defend the corner very well.
“We couldn’t get back in the game, couldn’t take the chances we had.
“And that’s the fine margins of football, especially when you come away to a European team like this, who are so desperate to win, as we were.
“I think it’s very simple the way the game went, we just weren’t good enough.”
Defeat on matchday seven leaves Unai Emery’s side on 13 points with one league phase match remaining at home to Celtic next week.
Villa currently occupy eighth place as they battle for a top-eight finish and a place straight into the Round of 16, with the Round of 32 awaiting those who finish between 9th and 24th.
Asked whether that provides added pressure, Mings replied: “It isn’t pressure, it’s something we deal with every time we step out on to the football pitch, that’s no different. We enjoy it.
“It’s obviously a very big game next week, but they all are in their own way.
“We’ll look forward to it, but we’ve got a big game at the weekend (against West Ham) and that’s our main focus.”
