Pep Guardiola's absence from the touchline should not be used as an excuse for Manchester City.

That is according to the club's assistant manager, Mikel Arteta.

Guardiola was unable to sit on the touchline, as he is still serving a ban that carries over from last season. City were defeated 2-1 at home by Lyon in the first game of the group stages.

Asked about the possibility of Pep's absence impacting the team, Arteta said to Sky Sports: "I have no idea. That's something hypothetical. The reality is that Pep wasn't here and we lost the game. If he would have been on the touchline I couldn't say if we would have won 5-0 or lost 3-0.

"We were very aware of Lyon's strengths and weaknesses. We were well prepared. We weren't prepared to be 2-0 down at the break, but you have to react.

"There is zero margin for errors in the Champions League, you make a mistake and you are punished. If you don't win duels, play simple balls, you will suffer - today was another example of that."