Ireland Points The Finger

10 April 2009 13:09
Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has accused some of his team-mates of "hiding" when the going gets tough.[LNB]Ireland was left angry and frustrated after the 3-1 defeat by Hamburg in the UEFA Cup quarter-final first-leg match at the Norbank Arena.[LNB]It means City now face an uphill task in the return leg at Eastlands on Thursday if they are to reach the last four.[LNB]The performance against the Bundesliga high-flyers was all the more galling for Ireland as he opened the scoring after just 35 seconds.[LNB]He showed a cool head to take his tally for the season to 11 goals after combining well with Robinho.[LNB]"We have got more quality, but at home we need to show it and be braver," Ireland told BBC Radio 5 Live.[LNB]"I think at times some people were hiding and when we had our backs against the wall they were not brave enough to come out and fight."[LNB]City now have to regroup for the home match against Fulham on Sunday and it is almost certain they will be without Craig Bellamy.[LNB]The Wales striker was due to have a scan on Friday but is also likely to be ruled out of the cup match after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury. In addition Benjani Mwaruwari re-ruptured his thigh muscle and also faces a spell on the sidelines while Shaun Wright-Phillips is struggling with an ankle problem.[LNB]Manager Mark Hughes insists this is no time for self-pity as City go into the Fulham game on the back of six straight home league wins.[LNB]He said: "We just have to pick ourselves up, we have another game at the weekend that becomes really important for us.[LNB]"We must make sure that we recover well now, get right through Sunday and hope we can turn it around against Hamburg on Thursday.[LNB]"They are a very good side but we showed we can cause them problems. Certainly at home next week that is what we intend to do."[LNB]City's former Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong also believes the game is still finely balanced.[LNB]De Jong, ruled out of the match because he was cup-tied, said: "We have to keep our heads held high as we still have a game to play at home. We have to be positive.[LNB]"[The third goal] could be crucial, but so could the away goal. We can get a good result in the second leg because we are strong at home."[LNB]De Jong and Vincent Kompany, who also missed facing his former club through injury, were presented with gifts before the game by the host club.[LNB]"It showed a great respect and gives me a nice feeling because I had some good years here," De Jong told uefa.com.[LNB]"I know everybody. It's a shame I wasn't on the pitch, though, because I'd love to have some battles with them."[LNB]

Source: Eurosport