Source: Team_Talk
Hughes relishing European adventure
John Hughes is feeling full of pride as he prepares to lead Hibernian back into European competition against Maribor on Thursday.[LNB] Hibs will make their first outing in one of UEFA's main competitions for five years when they kick off their Europa League third qualifying-round clash.[LNB]Hughes is determined to get them through to the play-off round when they bring the Slovenians back to Easter Road, which is undergoing a major redevelopment of its East Stand this summer.[LNB]And the former Hibs captain and boyhood fan is set on ensuring a European adventure is a regular occurrence.[LNB]"I'm a very proud man," Hughes said. "I hadn't seen the stadium for a while and when I went back on Monday and looked out, I thought 'this will be one of the best stadiums in Scotland'.[LNB]"I want to be making sure that most years we're playing in European football and carrying the flag for Scotland and hopefully we'll do that.[LNB]"We need to take great inspiration from the Old Firm - what they have done getting to UEFA Cup finals.[LNB]"But come Thursday night, it's a matter of keeping ourselves in the tie and getting them back to Easter Road.[LNB]"We'll have to come up with a strategy that will do that and we have been working very, very hard towards that."[LNB]Hughes will also fulfil a personal ambition by leading a club out in Europe as he continues his development as a manager.[LNB]The former Falkirk boss is always looking to learn, such as his extra work on the club's tour of Holland last week.[LNB]He said: "As a manager sometimes you're looking for that inspiration - what else is out there? What can you do for your development?[LNB]"Even in Holland, there was a Turkish team there, and Plymouth, and Arnhem themselves.[LNB]"You could watch their training sessions and take pointers - that makes you a better manager. It gives you that drive to make the team better."[LNB]However, there are some tricks that Hughes could teach others - such as how to confuse any Maribor scouts who attended Hibernian's 1-1 draw against Vitesse Arnhem at the weekend.[LNB]"We have done everything, even there on Saturday against Arnhem, we held a bit back," he said.[LNB]"We changed all the numbers round. I think Pat Stanton was playing number 10 - he was on the team sheet anyway."
