Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Hughes: City dream not over

10 Apr 2009 - 07:20:29

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Mark Hughes still believes Manchester City can progress in Europe despite losing 3-1 to Hamburg in the first leg of Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final.

City snatched a first-minute lead through Stephen Ireland at the Nordbank Arena, but goals from Joris Mathijsen, Piotr Trochowski and substitute Jose Guerrero put the Bundesliga side in the driving seat in the last-eight tie.

But despite needing to overcome a two-goal deficit in next week's second leg at Eastlands, Hughes still believes City can continue their European campaign.

"It will be difficult to claw back but we are certainly not out of the competition," he claimed.

"We have shown time and again we can score goals at Eastlands. We have players capable of causing Hamburg problems as we showed that tonight.

"So we have got to pick ourselves up and it will be a big night for the second leg.

"We are still in this tie and we are not going to concede it now. We have got to be positive.

"We are fully committed to the second leg and will give it a real go because we have to."

Following an impressive showing in Germany in which he made a number of important saves, Hughes has also backed goalkeeper Shay Given to be a key figure in the return leg.

He added: "He is an outstanding goalkeeper who is there to make crucial saves.

"When you are up against a quality side like Hamburg, who are at home, they will have chances.

"We have to defend them and Shay to save them but that situation happens in every game."