Hughes demands City group win

Chris Bailey

December 17, 2008

CITY may make changes for tomorrow's Euro trip to Santander but boss Mark Hughes has set his sights on winning the group.

The injury hit Blues, with a vital league game at bottom of the table West Brom on Sunday, have already qualifed for the UEFA Cup's last 32, but are keen to avoid the second place finish that would pit them against a Champions League drop-out in the next round.

They can clinch the Group A crown if they beat Racing Santander at the El Sardinero Stadium tomorrow night or if they simply equal whatever result FC Twente obtain in France against PSG.

Santander, who have never in their history conceded more than one goal in a Uefa home game, need to win to progress.

"We've had a look at the teams that we could face if we finish in second position, but of course if we win the group that won't be a worry to us," declared Blues boss Mark Hughes.

"You just have to look at the quality of the teams dropping down from the Champions League to understand that winning the group would be a real bonus for us, so that's our mindset going into the game."

Concerns

City have won six of their last seven European away games, drawing the other but have pressing concerns at home where they are out of the bottom three only on goal difference.

"It's nice to have this European prize to chase, on occasions you can start to think that it's a struggle combining the league and UEFA Cup demands, because it is a big drain on our resources," Hughes continued. "However, going out in the latter stages leaves a real vacuum.

"It might seem a like a lot of hassle for little gain at times, but we really want to keep progressing in this competition.

"There are some top quality sides in the UEFA Cup, even before this group of Champions League sides dropped in. The standard has been high from the start, it's going to take a really good team to win it and we're aiming to stay in to the latter stages and prove we are a good team."

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Brisbane Blue (17/12/2008 at 09:26)

Hughes demands!

Let's hope someone listens then cos they haven't so far.

Dibble (17/12/2008 at 09:28)

the standard hasn't been that high.

when the draw happen i thought our group was a hard one SHalke were in CL last year and did well, Twente were in CL this year and got knocked out, and PSG have a good record in europe

but that quality failed to live up to my expectation, don't get me wrong i think we have played better in europe than in the PL going to Shalke and winning was a great performance my point is that the sides we have played so far weren't all that good Twente were young and we should have beeten them a lot easier (and been able to take off a few of the regular team) and we really deserved to loose the PSG game (they weren't a good side) and we weren't much better

saying all that we are unbeaten and have already qualified so a positive result would be a bonus just hope if we do win we can take that into Sundays game as this as the moment is much more important

g leeds, Leeeds (17/12/2008 at 09:39)

is the game televised?

The Wright-Phillips Show, A Football Ground Near You (17/12/2008 at 09:40)

Not to fussed where we finish as long as we qualify, which we have, we should be able to put ourselves up against the highest calibre of teams in the competition anyway.

For me its all about Sunday, accept nothing less than 3 points Hughes.

timmy, manchester (17/12/2008 at 09:53)

Hughes must not risk any key players in this game, because the WBA match is much more important. So no Ireland or SWP, no Vincent and no Roninho. Give some of the lads a chance.

naz, Manchester (17/12/2008 at 10:00)

Play Jo and Elano in Spain so that they don't have to play at the weekend.

Losing Benjani, just as he was coming into form, was typical of our luck this season.

If we qualify as Group winners in Spain it can be the springboard for big games at WBA and Blackburn, but it's not ideal preparation.

It's not as if we have much strength in depth at the moment with the number of injuries we have

City Slipper, Manchester (17/12/2008 at 10:17)

"it's going to take a really good team to win it and we're aiming to stay in to the latter stages" - is that all? Are we not aiming to win it? Surely that should be our aim. A lot of hassle for little gain? We are playing against top sides, some of the best in Europe. It can only be good for the team, the club and us, the fans.

Andrew Shaw (17/12/2008 at 10:18)

Er, how many games have Santander actually played at home in Europe?

bluelight, Levenshulme (17/12/2008 at 11:00)

That is a lovely shot of Hughesy MEN. He's even wearing a silver suit to compliment his silver hair and silver skin. He is the silver fox.

The Wright-Phillips Show, A Football Ground Near You (17/12/2008 at 11:07)

g leeds, Leeeds
17/12/2008 at 09:39

It's on some Spanish channel so it'll be one to stream, i use footballstreaming.info, it's very good.

PJS, Oz (17/12/2008 at 11:42)

Dibble,
17/12/2008 at 09:28

Totally agreed, whether we play a CL reject now or later is moot as if we want to win the whole competition (which with the FA Cup looks like the only 2 avenues back into Europe at this stage....and we arent topping the FairPlay standings either!).

The standard in our group is really not that high, even Schalke who are regular CL participants are going through a horror run of their own in the Bundesliga over the last 2 months (not to takeaway from a great game by us however).

But the bleak reality is that if Twente, Schalke (on current form), PSG and Santander (who will also be in a relegation dogfight come season end in La Liga) were playing in the Premier League, they would be trying to avoid the drop also.

3pts at the Hawthorns is IMPERATIVE and I don't want to read excuses about the Santander game sapping our energies if we produce another inept display this weekend.

Chance at the far post.... Hinchcliffe, Manchester (17/12/2008 at 11:48)

Its ridiculous that the game is not on a UK channel. Surely if someone put in a cheeky low bid for the rights now it would be accepted (something is better than nothing). So come on then Channel M, get it sorted!

Even Channel 5 arent interested - we are a true global club arent we? NOT!

BTW this should be our team tomorrow - Scmikes, Onouha, TBH, Berti, Ball, Elano, Vass, Hamann, Fernandes, Jo, Evans.

Tommy C, Oz (17/12/2008 at 12:31)

The game will be on the net somewhere, suggest a] justin tv, b] asiaplate tv, c} iraqigoals.com

I`ve managed to see City play every where from the Faroe Islands to Blackpool this season so it will be on somewhere. Google any of the above and you should find it, the quality can be a bit hit and miss but that just reminds me of our side!

g leeds, Leeeds (17/12/2008 at 12:59)

The Wright-Phillips Show

many thanks

MALCOLM G, TAMESIDE (17/12/2008 at 13:15)

NICE 1 SPARKY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.YOUR A LEGEND

tony 1finga, wythenshawe (17/12/2008 at 14:01)

west gorton fc, manchester (17/12/2008 at 14:07)

what worries me is mh is not considering any of our reserves i think they are top of the league and obviously have some grest potential.he tried a weaker team against psg with no kids and we was rubbish but he hasnt learnt,if i was j cassel i would be worried because i no longer see a future at mcfc for any youngster sad but true.he as left sturridge,dunne,jo,and still no spot for any youngsters.i would be thinking more of sundays game and i wouldnt risk any of our key players but mh as suprised me with a lot of hes desisions this year and i dont think its about to change.the heart as been ripped out of mcfc like it or not .it makes me feel sad
anyway 3 points on sunday would make me feel a whole lot better

Chance at the far post.... Hinchcliffe, Manchester (17/12/2008 at 14:36)

Failing that, has anyone got a satelite dish the size of Jodrell Bank? We can all come round your gaff and watch it. Internet streams are pants.

ted knott, droylsden (17/12/2008 at 14:50)

Talk is cheap Sparky -Dunne,Ball & Vassell are acute passengers offload them to save your job but it now may be too late!

True Blue,Galway.Ireland, Galway (17/12/2008 at 15:06)

Mark,You have demanded wins before without effect so I hope they respond and continue to do so

Bristol Blue, Bristol (17/12/2008 at 15:08)

Hughes should take a leaf out of O'Neil's book and leave the good players at home (they can visit Dunne's wife and child in hospital). SWP and SI need a break and to be fresh for the WBA game. Let's some of our younger players having a go - e.g., Onouha, Logan, Evans etc,

Andrew Shaw (17/12/2008 at 15:35)

I can't see us getting anything out of this game with that squad so let's hope PSG beat McClaren's lot.

Paul, Warrington (17/12/2008 at 15:38)

If you ever wondered what Robby was going on about when he said we are a small team that lacks a winning mentality, well here it is:

"The standard has been high from the start, it's going to take a really good team to win it and we're aiming to stay in to the latter stages and prove we are a good team."

How about proving it by actuallly trying to win the compitition

crosspennineblue (17/12/2008 at 17:12)

We ALL demand a City group win! We need confidence putting back in the squad. Sport's more mental than physical, I've always believed that.

Bristol Blue, Bristol (17/12/2008 at 17:23)

Just seen the squad - surely we have two better players than Caicedo and Vassell? Imagine if Hughes goes 4-5-1 with Caicedo up front. One contributor wrote that the reserves are doing well - well why not give some of them a chance.

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