 |  | | |
| |||
Hughes has his eyes set on the top spot in UEFA Cup Group A as the
Blues fly to Spain ahead of Thursday’s game in Santander.
City face
Real Racing Club at the Estadio El Sardinero knowing that a win will
secure first place, and therefore avoid one of the Champions League
teams that will be in Friday’s draw for the round of 32.
Zenit St
Petersburg, who won last season’s UEFA Cup at the City of Manchester
Stadium, are one of sides who enter the competition after finishing in
third place in their Champions League group, so Hughes knows exactly
what’s required in on the coats of northern Spain tomorrow night.
Mark
told us, “We’ve had a look at the teams that we could face if we stay
in second position, but of course if we win the group that won’t be a
worry to us.
“You just have to look at the quality of the teams
dropping down from the Champions League to understand that winning the
group would be a real bonus for us, so that’s our mindset going into
that game.
“There are some top quality sides in the UEFA Cup,
even before this group of Champions League sides dropped in. The
standard of the competition has been high from the start, it’s going to
take a really good team to win it and we’re aiming to stay in to the
latter stages and prove we are a good team.”
Thursday night’s
game is the first of five in the traditionally busy festive season, but
with the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup not starting until February
the Manager is happy to have the prospect of more European competition
to aim for in the New Year.
He adds, “It’s nice to have this
European prize to chase, on occasions you can start to think that it’s
a struggle combining the league & UEFA Cup demands, because it is a
big drain on our resources. But having said that going out in the
latter stages leaves a real vacuum, so that’s not what we want.
“It might seem a like a lot of hassle for little gain at times, but we really want to keep progressing in this competition.”
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น