City entertain Aalborg at Eastlands on Thursday night, their third Danish opponents in a competition they entered as Fair Play winners in the first qualifying round back in July.
Victory against a side that held Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford during a Champions League campaign that ultimately saw Aalborg finish third in the group and drop into Europe's secondary competition, would see City claim a quarter-final berth, leaving them just a couple of rounds away from a place in Istanbul on May 20.
For a club that has not collected any meaningful silverware since they defeated Newcastle in the 1976 League Cup Final, winning in Europe would represent a memorable campaign.
Yet, taking into account the huge interest that has grown around City since they were initially taken over by the former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and then the cash-rich Abu Dhabi United Group, Hughes does not feel it would ease the pressure.
"I don't see the scrutiny we are under lessening anytime soon," said Hughes. "We must get used to that.
"It is about dealing with that pressure and those expectations.
"As I keep stressing, the expectations some people have for us are a little bit unrealistic.
"First, we need to become a team that is solid and understands how to win games. We can compete in this league. What we have to do is compete consistently."
One of the reason City find themselves trying to cope with such high demands is the amount of money being lavished on the team, in particular Robinho.
If City are to make further inroads in the competition, the £32.5million British record signing will have to be a significant performer.
Impressive
He has returned from a brief trip back to South America having apparently recovered from the ankle injury that kept him out of last week's impressive win over Aston Villa, with Hughes expecting another big performance from a player he feels is unjustly singled out at times when results have not gone well.
"At times Robinho gets overly criticised," said Hughes.
"When we have not played well away from home, he seems to get the brunt of it because he is one of our most high-profile players.
"But people have to take into account that he is one of our more creative and attack-minded players and teams will try to make sure he doesn't have a positive impact."
Hughes would certainly not be without him, especially now the UEFA Cup has reached its last 16 stage, with games becoming far tighter as a result.
"Robinho has the ability to unlock the door," he said.
"When it is difficult to break teams down sometimes you need a flash of inspiration or a bit of brilliance. Robinho has that capability."
Hughes' planning has been thrown into disarray by the toe injury that threatens Vincent Kompany's participation. As Nigel de Jong is not registered - he probably would not have played anyway due to a knee injury - City might be without both first-choice central midfield players.
With Dietmar Hamann a long-term absentee, Hughes may be forced to call on Gelson Fernandes and Elano.
Although they were hammered by United in Denmark last September, Aalborg proved their worth with the result at Old Trafford.
As they also accounted for Celtic to reach the UEFA Cup, where they defeated Deportivo La Coruna home and away last month, Hughes feels Aalborg represent the strongest of the three Danish sides they will face, even though they are behind both Midtjylland and FC Copenhagen in the table.
"I don't place too much significance on their league position," said Hughes.
"They are well organised and get people back in position quickly when they lose possession, which is something we have found difficult overcoming this season.
"In European terms they are ahead of us. They have played Champions League football, which is what we aspire to.
"But if we can replicate our performance against Aston Villa last week, it will be difficult for Aalborg to overcome us."
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YES I think Sparky is right however I think our owners will always be looking to improve anything they think possible Hughes is no exception whatsoever.Tomorrow I think CITY will do something United couldn't do and that is Beat Aalborg at home 2-0 to the blues.....
Agreed ted knott, hughes can be a great manager, but if the results do not show, then the owners will sureley consider replacing him, i dont like the way the media get on his back after a loss or two, then hail him when he wins a few, give the man a season, then play judje, jury and executioner.
City 3 - Aab 1
City for Villa he aint gettin paid a Valencia!!!
Blimey ted, you'll be captain of the clappers team with positive comments like that! Istaanbul istanbul we are coming...
there will always be pressure on us now we expect the world of football to bow to us and it will take time it took our beloved joe n mal a few yrs 2 get us going so give hughes some time and it will happen patience the key word as 4 thurs elano n ireland in mid backed by the zebman an uneasy n tight 3-1 win last min goal conceded again let the blue moon rise over the promised land. ctid always maine rd in our hearts
It will be nice to get one over the rags and beat Aalborg - me thinks we will win ...
And for the record fellow blues tha slag me of, Im not a rag..nor an armchair supporter..
Although I could say differently to a few of the jokers on this site.
Good luck to the boys and yes Sparky too...by god we need some of the green.
And just for fun I would like a vote... a friendly one ...and no its not taking the piazo...I want to know how many people credit Mark Hughes as the Manager of MCFC!
MY VOTE TO KICK US OF - NO!
NUFF SAID!
The pressure will always be there if anything it might get worse if we win something. Sparky is as solid as a rock which is exactly what we need. CTID.
Blue Boy, Never slagged you off and don't intend to start now. I just disagree with you re Hughes. However, who do you want to repalce him? If Mourinho is your choice I would take a long hard read at an article in today's Guardian by an English sports writer based in Italy.
Mark Hughes is the manager for City. Forget the Sun newspapder and Benitez who has wasted more money than most. Drogba, Drogba, Drogba please Garry Cook.
Gutted. I can't make the game on Thursday because the Rag that I worked for has made me redundant so I have no money. Will be there in spirit. ISTANBUL ISTANBUL WE ARE COMING!
ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire
11/03/2009 at 19:03
I would love it if Jose was the man - but sadly it wont your quite right!
Me thinks Arsene Wenger is gonna make a shock exit of the emirates to spend an absolute obscene amount of candy at city!
Because quite frankly ...sadly by the way...I wouldnt trust a manager with no pedigree of managment in winning, and non tactical minded man!
Come on my blues - lets beat em!
NUFF SAID!
I dont think Hughe will be here for the long term i think after 5 seasons if he gets that far i think city will try and go for a big Name manager thats Mourihio
Is Sammy Haggar having a laugh or is it just poor keyboard skills? 5 seasons???? It won't be that though it could be and possibly should be more
Let remember Ferguson (grit your teeeth, fellas) - it took several years and a more than fortunate collection of excellent players coming up from the MU youth team before he began to win thel eague. It is clear that we need a good manager (we have one) and a willingness to give him time to build a team ( you know the thing, a bunch of players who can and actually want to play together). If players don't want to play, then ship them out and buy good players who will fit in. If Robinho acts the burke then sack him off and we will still have an excellent left sided player in Petrov to step in. We are on the verge of greatness but need patience. Rome wasn't built in a day and what not. Villa are good role models.
33 years,
it feels like yesterday when i was stood at Wembley with the old man and my 2 brothers and Denis went into Pele mode.
GOAL...........
i can wait another 2 months...........
Mark Hughes will be here for 5 years.
*knocks wood, crosses fingers, prays, sacrifices chicken*
BLUEBOY
BLUEBOY
every manager in the long history of managers starts off having won nothing.
yor vetting system is a rubbish one. Its the chicken and the egg question.
if we win the uefa cup then where does that leave you and your opinion? Is hughes acceptable then or not?
Am I reading correctly, has ted knott's computer been hacked? Mr Pessimistic giving Hughes and City positve feedback!
Trust me Bluesey, their will be no pressure from myself if we win ANYTHING because I'll be toes up from alcholol poisoning MEKNOWS.
After 36 years of dissapointment, complete frustration and agony let alone the financial expendature I'll milk that one forever and a day. I'm sure that goes for the majority on here too.
CAAAAAAAAAAMMMMM ON CITYYYYYYYYYYY FFS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now boys and girls,i may just have to jump ship and join the happy clapper first eleven,there is a few things that our manager Mr Mark Hughes has said and done over the last week or so that have me scratching my sweede.
Let me give you an example,firstly the performance against the villa (one of the best all round team displays i've seen for a long while)the fact that in his post match interview he mentioned the city fans (not once but twice huraahhh)and finally i can't actually find any faults with any of the signings he's made so far,they have all been very good business and so far value for money,especially Bellamy who i thought was a faster version of joey barton,how wrong was i and he's been a revelation so far.
Hughes says that if we did win the uefa cup there would still be pressure on city,well for me mark bring the pressure on because if we do get to Istanbull and win that pot,you will go down in history with every city fan for delivering our first real trophy in over thirty years,then you will feel the pressure from the media i some how doubt you feel it from the fans.
Can i be captain of the happy clappers for that bluemoon risin?
Blue Boy,
Take the chill plills and get behind Mark Hughes,nuff said.
Inter Milan are no more than a Sunday Pub Football team.
Wet in Vienna 1970, Stockport
11/03/2009 at 19:34
Sorry to hear about that mate
BLUE BOY!! MANCHESTER NOT LONDON!!, Manchester
11/03/2009 at 17:24
Your wrong mate re MH, your posts are bang out of order and you know it, he's a good, potentially great manager with a wonderful pedigree, one that we wish some of the so called stars we have had playing for us and indeed who have managed us can only dream of, he is a strong minded intelligent man, with a wealth of football knowledge gained from working on the international scene, and from playing under some of the games top managers, how can that be bad?!!..You talk of him being non tactical minded, mate what does that mean?,its a ridiculous generic statement used by people who dont know anything about the game, and i for one am sick to death of hearing it.
I personally couldnt care less if we get one over the rags and beat Aalborg, this is about us, and us alone, all fellow blues will tell you that, yes there a some jokers on here, but non as funny as you fella...You mentioned being a rag, me thinks you are..
Nuff said!
Keeping the faith.
Tomorrow I think CITY will do something United couldn't do and that is Beat Aalborg at home 2-0 to the blues.....
ted knott, droylsden
11/03/2009 at 16:46
No we had a reserve team out and we'd already quailfied. We then went on to win the double. I know it must hurt!