They must see off German giants Schalke and French side Paris Saint Germain when the group stages start next month.
The Blues will face former England boss Steve McClaren's FC Twente at the City of Manchester Stadium on November 6.
They will then face Schalke in Gelsenkirchen on November 27, before taking on PSG at Eastlands on December 3.
They wrap up their group games in Spain against Racing Santander on December 18.
Hughes said: "It's obviously a pretty tough group that we find ourselves in.
"But given the fact that this is a very strong competition full of good teams, this was always going to be the case.
"If you look across the board, there are some really testing teams in all the groups.
"And to be playing at this level in high-profile games can only be good for our club.
"It will be a challenge but I'm confident that we can progress further in the competition."
The top three sides from City's five-team pool will go into the knock-out stages in February where they will be joined by the clubs who finished third in the eight Champions League groups.
Do you think City will progress? Have your say.
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woolleyback blue, Heart of the City (08/10/2008 at 09:12)
Hope the rumours of us being after Frings are true, he'd be perfect to put next to VK. Not heard any rumours about a left CB, any suggestions based on who we could reasonably expect to get and not a fantasy football pick.
CTID
Blue Boy '83 (08/10/2008 at 09:13)
Phil Neal's Laxative (08/10/2008 at 09:16)
Personally, I'm looking forward to the trip up to Gelsenkirchen and hopefully a few days in Northern Spain too. Even if we get nothing from those matches - though I believe we can at least draw both of them - we'll hopefully have enough points on the board from the two home games to see us through.
ben haims nextdoor neighbour, whitefield (08/10/2008 at 09:26)
1. I am not a rag
2. I am a season ticket holder for 35yrs OK
My point is that he has no record of success, he is nieve, what a cock-up against Liverpool, Wigan and Brighton, 3 defeats that should be sounding alarm bells in the heart of every blue. Why should we accept a "glorious" 3-2 home defeat?
Why should a very strong side lose in a cup competition we should surely be targetting to win...I mean we cant be choosy what we win can we? I am worried by the narrow victories in Europe, all he seems to be concerned with is arm waving at the ref and giving the fourt official a hard time, just like Uncle Alex the red nosed drunk across the road. We need style, we need spine, we need SUCCESS, please change Hughesless now
PS Ben Haim does live next door to me
Elano 11 (08/10/2008 at 09:32)
8/10/2008 at 09:26
It's fans like you I really dispair at. I can't even be bothered to argue the point, because your post is to ridiculous for words.
STONEY Mancunia (08/10/2008 at 09:33)
MCFC UEFA CUP WINNERS 2009.
A Manc and blue (08/10/2008 at 09:35)
football and sports is my business !, west midlands (08/10/2008 at 09:37)
Come January and also the return to fitness of the other strikers in the team where will Sturridge and Ched fit in. They have only started two matches each and its looking more likely that their opportunities are going to be limited.
Sturridge showed again last night that has the most naturally gifted striker in the club when given the chance to prove it. If given a run of games like Jo ,Benjani and Vass have been given in the past and Sturridge doesn't shine, then at least we know that he won't be the answer to hour prayers, but we have to find out first. When WILL WE is the big QUESTION NOW, and come the new year, who knows we may never know until he moves on, and then its CITY's loss and another clubs GAIN.
Sonny Cheema (08/10/2008 at 09:40)
We are building for the future. The team will lose now and again and MH will make some mistakes along the way, its all part of becoming a great manager and a great team. So even though I appreciate you have been a supporter for a no. of years, you should realise what is going on and not the very temporary short comings. As long as you don't keep making the same mistakes as SVEN did, then MH will be ok. He is the best man for the job in my opinion, so just have faith.
Its all about winning at the end of the day, but aslong as we're fighting to be in those positions then more times then not we will. We do require improvements in some areas which he will address, but until then just lets get behind the team and not start criticising after a few games.
LEE BRADBURY CITY RUINED MY LIFE (08/10/2008 at 09:40)
The way I see things is this has come very early in our development, so we should just enjoy the ride and see what happens.
Bluereed my voice only (08/10/2008 at 09:43)
8/10/2008 at 09:12
Leftback,WARNOCK?
Pint of Middle Eastlands, please!, Audenshaw (08/10/2008 at 09:59)
UP THE BLUES!!!
BlueIsTheColour, West Didsbury (08/10/2008 at 10:00)
If you have been a City fan for so long & I am not doubting you for one minute, you will know that the last thing we need is more change at the top...WE NEED STABILITY!! For God's sake give him a chance...What will you do, bring back Sven!!
Turning to this Euro draw, looking at some of the teams in other groups, ours looks ok. We have no experience in Europe & a young side so it will be a great test. Sneaking points away from home would appear to be the key, but with 3 teams to go through we should be looking to progress.
I can back up a previous comment about Michael Johnson, he thinks he's in the bigtime already & his dad is the same...methinks he will be on his way out!
No matter, if his heart isn't in it we don't need him!!
CTID
Duke of Earl, Middleton (08/10/2008 at 10:00)
Pint of Middle Eastlands, please!, Audenshaw (08/10/2008 at 10:02)
MALCOLM G, TAMESIDE (08/10/2008 at 10:04)
A WORTHY BLUE (08/10/2008 at 10:05)
8/10/2008 at 09:12
left cb i'd like to see us go out and get Giorgio Chiellini from juventus.fits hughes bill perfectly.young,improving,good technically and has a desire to improve(alledgedly).centre mid is a no brainer for me gareth barry.he knows the prem,is a good tackler,excellent passer and is left footed so would give a very balanced look to the center.i think him and the komp would be very hard to beat.
TruBlu132 (08/10/2008 at 10:05)
I agree you are entitled to your opinion and good on you for voicing your concerns over Hughes. However, I believe this is still early days and it will take some beatings and some good wins to work out the strengths and weaknesses and best tactics for the team. Just remember, Hughes has inherited a number of players he has to mould into what he requires. I truly believe that though he hasn't had success on the grand scale of things, he is an up and coming manager who undoubtedly will become brilliant and hopefully he will achieve that with City. His eye for a good player is a top quality to have (Red nose, Wenger etc)
Yeah we have lost to Brighton and Wigan away and a very strong Liverpool team at home, but apart from the Brighton game (typical city) we seem to be developing a very strong attcking team, maybe at the expense of the defence. With a few more months under his belt and the Jan transfer window, strengthening up the defence will make the team a balanced, strong and scary proposition for any team and will make a second half of the season exciting as we climb to new heights. Then over the summer, any weaknesses exposed can be sorted and depth added to the squad where necessary. Tactics will then be sound as Hughes will have had enough time with the players to know what suits best, home and away and then next season, we should be a force to be reckoned with.
Again, good on you for you opinion, but I hope and don't believe you are correct.
We should all be positive and await the end of the season before making any judgement I believe. If we finish bottom half, with no cup runs, then yes, we must start to question the set up and manager, but until then, lets just enjoy the ride.
CTID
Phil Neal's Laxative (08/10/2008 at 10:06)
I'm prepared to suspend disbelief and go along with your "Ben Haim really is my neighbour" yarn, but it would take an extremely deluded season ticket holder of 35 years to label MH as "Hughesless".
Pity we don't have a virtual lie detector or something, though your atrocious spelling could be taken as evidence that you're lying through your back teeth.
Put it this way pal. If you really are a season ticket holder, try starting a chant at the next game (“Hughes out” or something) and see where that gets you.
Jumpers for goalposts, Down the park (08/10/2008 at 10:11)
Free Ian Brown, Denton (08/10/2008 at 10:20)
We might even get an easy draw against the rags in the next round when they get bombed out of the champions league. Snigger.
knowledge is king, Denton (08/10/2008 at 10:21)
I'm also sure that if Hughes had time in the last transfer window, he would have brought in a top class left back and another central midfielder possibly another combative one to supplement the creative talents of Ireland, Elano, Petrov, Robinho and Johnson (when fit).
To the moron slagging off Hughes. Give him time. I will judge Hughes on next season. What is the point of getting rid of him now.
Eric, Dutch,, 33 years and still here (08/10/2008 at 10:26)
Opponents will look up to us. Despite having several internationals in the squad, the experience with European clubfootball is not our strongest asset.
As to Ben Haims neighbour, look at where we were 10 years ago. Despite all the failures and supposedly wrong managers since, we do move foreward. A teamprogress never ever develops within a few weeks. Try and see the bigger picture, with Hughes, with the players and with the club in general. It's a long timesince it looked better than it does now. I haven't experienced it in my 33 years connection to the club.
dave clare, perth australia (08/10/2008 at 10:38)
8/10/2008 at 09:26
some posters on here, are in there way trying to be nice to you. Must be the 35 year season ticket, me, well i think your an out and out d...head, you want to sack a manager after 7 prem games, get a life mate.
The Wright-Phillips Show, A Football Ground Near You (08/10/2008 at 10:39)
8/10/2008 at 10:04
Presumably you are gutted to find he is not the manager of your beloved rags you donut punching fool