Source: SKY_Sports
Hughes eyes seventh spot
Mark Hughes believes his Manchester City side can qualify for next season's Europa Cup via their final league position.
City currently find themselves in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup where they will face Hamburg but Hughes is confident that if a top four side win the FA Cup then his team can qualify for the rebranded Europa Cup by finishing seventh.
City currently sit 10th, three points behind Wigan who currently occupy seventh spot and the Welshman is in optimistic about the run-in.
The Eastlands club have welcomed a number of first teamers back from injury to further boost their chances with the likes of Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Daniel Sturridge, Dietmar Hamann and Benjani all close to full fitness.
"It's more than a possibility," the Welshman said.
"Obviously certain things need to happen with teams in the Champions League positions winning trophies just to drop down.
"We are probably a little bit too far away to get sixth position but certainly seventh is well within our grasp and we will be working to that end."
The former Manchester United striker is positive that the return of some big players will have a positive effect on the squad as the season draws to a close.
"We are stronger than we have been in the first half of the season and we have got players coming back," he added.
"They will give us energy and enthusiasm for the games we've got left. And will help give us more options and more variation and we are really looking forward to this last period.
"It's good timing that we have good players coming back to supplement a team that has had a long season.
"The introduction of fresh talent and fresh energy will be significant I'm sure. We have got eight Premier League games and hopefully more in Europe.
"We are at the business end and those games can really focus players' minds. You tick them off and go with the attitude that we will try and win every one.
"That is certainly the way we will go about it."
Hughes takes his side to Arsenal on Saturday, a tough task at the best of times. But coupled with City's dismal away record this season, no win since August, most Blues fans will be forgiven for not feeling overly optimistic.
But the former Blackburn boss fully expects his side to get a result at the Emirates Stadium as they look to finish the season strongly.
"Arsenal are playing well and it will be a difficult game for us, but everybody is looking forward to it," he explained.
"The Emirates Stadium is a great stage and it's an opportunity as a player and a manager to show what you can do.
"At times we haven't had the tools to really go and bang out results with the mindset that we're not going to get beat.
"Certainly that was the case in the early part of the season but now I feel we have players that have the mentality that we can go to places like the Emirates and Anfield and put on a good performance and get positive results.
"That's what we are aiming to do at the weekend."
