Source: SKY_Sports
Hughes eager for Euro repeat
Manager Mark Hughes is confident Manchester City can make it into Europe for a second successive season.[LNB] The Blues suffered an agonising Uefa Cup quarter-final exit against Hamburg on Thursday and have ground to make up if they are to secure a place in next season's new-look Europa League through their league finish.[LNB]City are six points off seventh place with six games remaining and missed a chance to leapfrog one of their rivals for European qualification last week as they lost 3-1 at home to Fulham.[LNB]Hughes steered City to the latter stages of the Uefa Cup after being entered into the preliminary rounds through last season's Fair Play league but he is determined to bypass that route this time round.[LNB]The Blues had won their previous six Premier League matches at Eastlands before that dismal defeat by Fulham and Hughes believes they must bounce back to winning ways at home if they are to challenge for Europe.[LNB]"We will try to get in to Europe by virtue of our league position," he said.[LNB]In the mix"If we can continue our good home form we have a chance of being in the mix for seventh place.[LNB]"The players were very low in the dressing room, it was an emotional night. But we have another big game at the weekend.[LNB]"We have got to pick ourselves up. It is a case of making sure we recover, clear our heads and go again.[LNB]"It will be difficult to re-focus and get back to Premier League action but we will take encouragement from this performance against Hamburg.[LNB]"It is important now we have a really strong finish. One of the things we have to do is address our away form, which has not been good enough."[LNB]Learning curveHughes admits City's domestic form has suffered as a result of their Uefa Cup campaign but believes it could be just the start for the ambitious Blues.[LNB]"It has been a long journey and we have put in a lot of effort, sometimes at the expense of our performances in the Premier League," he said.[LNB]"It has been a learning experience for the group as a whole, myself included, and we will benefit from the experience in the long term.[LNB]"People are beginning to understand what is going to happen here in the next few years and hopefully there will be more great European nights."[LNB]
