Carlo Ancelotti has refuted suggestions that Bayern Munich underestimated FC Rostov in Wednesday's Champions League defeat.
The reigning Bundesliga champions were on the end of a shock 3-2 loss to the Russian outfit and, in the process, were beaten by a Russian side for the first time in their history in UEFA's flagship club competition.
The result ensures that Bayern can only finish second in Group D after Atletico Madrid secured first place with victory over PSV Eindhoven and, speaking to the club's official site in the wake of the surprising loss, Ancelotti was in bullish mood when quizzed over accusations that the German giants had taken the game too lightly.
He said: "We didn't underestimate Rostov. We didn't play well, that's why we lost. We made too many mistakes after the goal. It's very difficult for us at the moment."
Bayern had taken a 36th minute lead through Douglas Costa, but Liverpool target Sardar Azmoun equalised for the home side on the stroke of half-time before a Dimitri Poloz penalty handed Rostov the initiative four minutes after the restart.
Juan Bernat levelled proceedings on 52 minutes, but Christian Noboa fired home the eventual winnner 24 minutes from time to secure an unlikely win for Rostov.
Carlo Ancelotti's 3rd loss as Bayern coach in all competitions. Pep had won the Bundesliga by the time his 3rd defeat with Bayern arrived...
Jerome Boateng was particularly at fault in conditions of -4 degrees celsius, with the centre back stumbling to the turf as Azmoun equalised, before he gave away the penalty that Poloz scored from, and went off injured just moments before Noboa's winner.
The Germany international came in for fierce criticism after the game from CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge who, in quotes published by BBC Sport, said the defeat would act as a wake up call to Boateng and the club as a whole.
He said: "Jerome needs to find a bit more quiet again. It's a bit too much for me since the summer. It would be in his interest and the whole club's if he came a little down back to earth."
Bayern club captain Philipp Lahm, however, was of the opinion that the entire Bayern team had to take responsibility for the defeat at the Olimp-2 stadium.
He added: "We wanted to win here, but we didn't succeed. We're a little too careless at the moment. We have to be aware our opponents might score, and that mistakes will be punished.
"We're making too many of them at the moment. I don't know why that is, but we must get rid of it as fast as we can. The next tough opponents await on Saturday."
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.@MrAncelotti: "We didn't play well, and that's why we lost. We did not underestimate Rostov." #ROSFCB pic.twitter.com/Fw9l0mK3wk