UEFA Cup - Hughes: We can come back

Eurosport - Wed, 15 Apr 19:28:00 2009

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes remained adamant that his side are still in their UEFA Cup quarter final, despite losing 3-1 at Hamburg in the first leg.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Premier League Manchester City Mark Hughes - 0

Hamburg recovered from a shocking start when they conceded a goal after just 35 seconds to score three crucial goals to give themselves a two-goal cushion going into the return leg at the City of Manchester Stadium.

"In the end we did concede three but we showed tonight that we can cause them problems and it will be a big night at Eastlands in a week's time," Hughes told ITV.

"I said to the guys none of them should think the tie is over, because we can score goals in the return leg."

Martin Jol's team, who are also chasing the Bundesliga title, were rocked when Stephen Ireland put the visitors ahead almost straight from the kickoff after a smart interchange with Robinho.

The home side equalised when Joris Mathijsen powered in a header from a corner after nine minutes and took the lead in the 63rd with a Piotr Trochowksi penalty for handball by Micah Richards.

Substitute Paolo Guerrero gave Hamburg a two-goal advantage to take into next Thursday's second leg in Manchester when he slammed in their third from close range in the 79th minute.

"We'd like to forget the first minute, but then after that we played well," said Jol.

"It was a big wake-up call, but we played well in the first half and had five or six great chances and we could have been three or four up by the second half," he told ITV Sport.

Hamburg would have won by a far bigger margin if City goalkeeper Shay Given had not been in such outstanding form, but City will feel they have everything to play for with an away goal to their credit.

Ireland stunned Hamburg when he interchanged passes with Robinho and made a long run for the return ball which he slotted past the goalkeeper with a precise shot.

That goal set the tone for an exhilarating first half in which Hamburg carried the game to City with a series of superb counter-attacking moves and a well deserved equaliser after nine minutes.

Given had already made three excellent saves after some breathtaking Hamburg attacks, but although he got a hand to Mathijsen's powerful near-post header, he could not stop it flying into the back of the net.

Hamburg went ahead just past the hour when Richards handled an acrobatic effort from Mathijsen and Trochowski slammed the penalty past Given.

Trochowski then set up Hamburg's third for Guerrero, who swept the ball high into the City net from close range eight minutes after replacing Olic.

Eurosport

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  1. I wrote this last week and as i said Mr Cook take­ note:

    Roll on next week when city will finally get­ dumped out­ of europe and hughes will be dumped as­ mannger the­ night of the double wammy, its been a long­ time coming­ and the sooner the better never have i­ known a manager­ live on so much borrowed time and why­ because city were­ in europe well Mr Cook and Co take­ note at the bridge­ this week new manager arrived­ (albeit a few months ago)­ and his impact was forth­ coming Chelski played L/pool­ off the pitch shame that­ in january the major transfer­ should have been Mr­ Hughes to somewhere in Europe (non­ return ticket on­ Eurostar), bring in the chosen one and­ then see­ results

    From BOB, on Wed 15 Apr 10:12PM

  2. city need a new captin, manager, and star player with­ all the money man city have a half decent defence isnt­ too much to ask for

    From scuthbert86, on Sun 12 Apr 8:44PM

  3. City would be better without a manager for the­ remaining games of the season than with this complete­ muppet leading them, the sooner he goes the faster we­ can actually start to look forward to the future.

    From youknowtheydidit, on Fri 10 Apr 2:11PM

  4. city has no defence what so ever hughes has spent­ millions on one forward he would have been better have­ spent it on a good back 4 i watched the game and what i­ saw the right back do he should be droped and­ forgotten
    he took the ball up field tried to dribble­ but he kept loosing the ball and if you watched him he­ just walked back to his position as though he was not­ supose to do any thing els the midfield were not much­ better you name the players worth there place as 5 or 6­ players the rest are rubish if theycarry on like that­ then they will fodder for the championship league

    From John B, on Fri 10 Apr 12:01PM

  5. City have no chance of coming back against a classy­ outfit like Hamburg. I don't know how Martin Jol­ has managed to make this team believe it can beat big­ teams, because he had a very poor record against them­ at Spurs.
    Hughes is not good enough, City need a high­ profile manager if they expect to sign any decent­ players. Robinho is a joke, he knows he is bigger than­ the club at the moment and needs to be put in his place­ and Hughes certainly won't be able to do­ that.
    Hughes should be managing QPR or someone of­ similar ilk.

    From Silver surfer, on Fri 10 Apr 11:56AM

  6. Of course City can come back. that team's problem­ is they play one great game and few bad ones. If they­ turn up on day D they can score few goals. Hughes is­ cra'ap anyway.

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 10 Apr 11:51AM

  7. THE ONLY WAY WE COME BACK IS ON THE PLANE FROM HAMBURG

    From BOB, on Fri 10 Apr 11:42AM

  8. ALL THE GOOD JOKERS COME FROM THE NORTH WHAT IS HUGHES­ DOING GETTING READY FOR HIS NEXT JOB STAND UP COMEDY­ HIS WORDS "WE CAN COME BACK" LOL LOL LOL LOL­ LOL LOL LOL LOL HAMBURG UNBEATEN AWAY IN EUROPE THIS­ SEASON WHO IS HE KIDDING HIMSELF BECAUSE HE AS SURE AS­ HELL AINT CONVINCED ME YET

    CITY ALL I WILL SAY IS­ THAT YOU WERE LUCKY WE HAD SHAY GIVEN ON FORM LAST­ NIGHT

    From BOB, on Fri 10 Apr 11:41AM

  9. get rid of hughes,he is still salford red sox scum

    From dorisdazzler, on Fri 10 Apr 11:35AM

  10. Roll on next week when city will finally get dumped out­ of europe and hughes will be dumped as mannger the­ night of the double wammy, its been a long time coming­ and the sooner the better never have i known a manager­ live on so much borrowed time and why because city were­ in europe well Mr Cook and Co take note at the bridge­ this week new manager arrived (albeit a few months ago)­ and his impact was forth coming Chelski played L/pool­ off the pitch shame that in january the major transfer­ should have been Mr Hughes to somewhere in Europe (non­ return ticket on Eurostar), bring in the chosen one and­ then see results

    From BOB, on Fri 10 Apr 11:02AM

  11. HUGHES YOUR CARREER IS OVER NOW @ CITY GET REAL N­ P!!!!!SS OFF TO MAN U

    From mcpluker, on Fri 10 Apr 9:32AM
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