Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland said some of his team-mates were not "brave" enough in Thursday's Uefa Cup first-leg defeat in Hamburg.
The Premier League side lost 3-1 after Ireland had put them ahead early on.
"We've got more quality, but at home we need to show it and be braver," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"I think at times tonight some people were hiding and when we had our backs against the wall some people were not brave enough to come out and fight."
City were beaten despite having taken a first-minute lead and face an uphill task in the second leg on 16 April.
But boss Mark Hughes says his side are still capable of reaching the Uefa Cup semi-finals.
"It will be difficult to claw back but we are not out of it," Hughes insisted.
"We have shown time and again we can score goals at Eastlands. We have players capable of causing Hamburg problems, as we showed."
Ireland gave City a dream start by scoring after 35 seconds but the joint leaders of the Bundesliga dominated after that and took control with goals from Joris Mathijsen, Piotr Trochowski and Jose Pablo Guerrero.
"We are still in this tie and we are not going to concede it now," added Hughes. "We have got to be positive.
"We know it will be difficult if they score first next week but overall I am very happy""We are fully committed to the second leg and will give it a real go."
City had keeper Shay Given to thank for not conceding more goals after he made a string of crucial saves.
"He is an outstanding goalkeeper, who is there to make crucial saves," said Hughes.
"When you are up against a quality side like Hamburg, who are at home, they will have chances.
"We have to defend them and Shay to save them but that situation happens in every game."
Hughes brought Benjani Mwaruwari on as a late substitute but suffered a recurrence of a ruptured thigh muscle.
606: DEBATEStriker Craig Bellamy also picked up a knee injury, while Shaun Wright-Phillips has a ankle problem.
"That made it difficult for us and we did not have that extra energy needed in a game like this," said Hughes.
Hamburg coach Martin Jol rued the fact his side had not capitalised more on their superiority.
"I would have preferred it if we had got another goal, " said the former Tottenham boss.
"We know it will be difficult if they score first next week but overall I am very happy."
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