Source: Team_Talk
Hibs boss proud despite Europa exit
John Hughes insisted he remained proud of Hibs, despite watching them crash out of the Europa League with a 6-2 aggregate defeat to Maribor.[LNB] The Easter Road men, already trailing by 3-0 from the first leg of their third qualifying round in Slovenia, lost 3-2 on the night to go out of Europe at the first hurdle.[LNB]The visitors were well worthy of their double victory and Hughes confessed the opening goal, a header from Maribor skipper Marcos Tavares after only 19 minutes, had killed the tie stone dead and left his side with no chance of going through.[LNB]Hughes said: "I felt the boys gave me everything in terms of a start, although I must say it was up and at them, which is not like us.[LNB]"But we just felt we wanted to mix it up and see if they could handle it, play a high tempo and get up on the second balls - and it was happening.[LNB]"We had one or two chances to take the lead - Anthony Stokes had a wee half chance but (the early goal) just didn't materialise.[LNB]"To lose a goal from a set-piece was disappointing and after that it was hard for the boys.[LNB]"But I'm very proud of them, they gave an almighty effort, they kept plugging away, kept digging in there. Just on the night, it was far too much for us to do.[LNB]"I asked them to play with a pride and a passion and a desire and I saw that. But with that they also have to be cool, calm and collected to get on the ball and tactically know what's happening.[LNB]"It was a hard-working performance but just on the night it wasn't good enough.[LNB]Maribor head coach Darko Milanic was delighted with his side's display in running out comfortable victors and admitted the club's catalogue of problems the previous day had given them extra motivation for the second-leg.[LNB]The Slovenians had experienced a disruptive fire alarm at their team hotel on Wednesday afternoon before their coach driver got lost on the way to Easter Road and a practice goal fell apart during their training session at the ground.[LNB]Milanic said: "The pressure from Hibernian was very strong from the start of the game but when we had our first chance in the match I felt it was going to be Maribor's match.[LNB]"Through the game, as the chances came more and more, it was certain this would be our game.[LNB]"It took us a very long time to get to the stadium for training (on Wednesday), there was a fire alarm at our hotel and there was a problem with the goal, where it was fortunate nobody got hurt.[LNB]"I was surprised that so many things went wrong in one day and it was a surprise for the boys also.[LNB]"In the end it just gave them an additional motivation, but it was not the key motivation, it was just one piece in the puzzle."[LNB]
