City's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid confirmed their elimination in the group stages of Europe's elite club competition for the second straight season.

Victory is needed against Borussia Dortmund to qualify for the Europa League and Silva said the results had left them hurting.

"To go out of the Champions League was terrible," Silva told The Sun. "It's a real pain and has damaged us a lot.

"The dressing room was a very unhappy place after the Real game and in our two games since, at Chelsea and Wigan, it has been very hard to recover our morale.

"It wasn't only the coach Roberto Mancini who was sad.

"For instance, after our defeat by Ajax in Amsterdam I saw a lot of broken people in that dressing room. That was a hard night. Little things cost us in Europe.

"We so nearly beat Real Madrid, for instance. All the squad was dreaming of a big season in Europe and now we are unhappy after stumbling for the second successive year."

Although morale took a big hit, Silva believes defeat in Europe has increased City's determination to reclaim their English Premier League crown.

"Being KO'd from the Champions League has increased our efforts to win the Premier League again," he said.

"Although I must say because everyone wants to beat us we have to work so hard and it is difficult to maintain a constant rhythm."