skinhead123
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- 27 Sep 2008
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Mark Hughes was satisfied with City's top place in UEFA Cup Group A, despite Thursday night's defeat to Real Racing Club in Santander on Thursday night.
The Blues lost 3-1 in northern Spain, but PSG's 4-0 win over Twente saw City top the group and the Spanish team go out on goal difference.
Speaking afterwards, Mark Hughes said: "The positive is that we finished top of the group, which was the order of the day. Ideally we would have done that by our own efforts, but as it is we lost and topped the table a little bit by default.
"It's the first time we have lost away in Europe, there was more motivation for the opposition - they had to win the game, we had already qualified and that can take a little bit of the edge away from it. I think we saw that at times, especially in the first half."
There were several changes to the starting XI from last Saturday's game, and of his changes the Manager added:
"We had something like eight internationals out there, but I had reasons for changing the side. We have to protect the likes of Stevie Ireland, Shaun and Vincent Kompany because they have flown the flag for us all season. It was important to allow them a bit of respite.
"Some other players got some important game time with the Christmas games coming up, Gelson played for the first time in a while and Felipe had an impact. But, we would have preferred a performance we were comfortable with. The main aim of the evening was to top the group, which we did."
im sorry but MH is not the man for our club its a feeling of always after the horse as bolted,gutted about robby being injured,i hope we
hammer the baggies
The Blues lost 3-1 in northern Spain, but PSG's 4-0 win over Twente saw City top the group and the Spanish team go out on goal difference.
Speaking afterwards, Mark Hughes said: "The positive is that we finished top of the group, which was the order of the day. Ideally we would have done that by our own efforts, but as it is we lost and topped the table a little bit by default.
"It's the first time we have lost away in Europe, there was more motivation for the opposition - they had to win the game, we had already qualified and that can take a little bit of the edge away from it. I think we saw that at times, especially in the first half."
There were several changes to the starting XI from last Saturday's game, and of his changes the Manager added:
"We had something like eight internationals out there, but I had reasons for changing the side. We have to protect the likes of Stevie Ireland, Shaun and Vincent Kompany because they have flown the flag for us all season. It was important to allow them a bit of respite.
"Some other players got some important game time with the Christmas games coming up, Gelson played for the first time in a while and Felipe had an impact. But, we would have preferred a performance we were comfortable with. The main aim of the evening was to top the group, which we did."
im sorry but MH is not the man for our club its a feeling of always after the horse as bolted,gutted about robby being injured,i hope we
hammer the baggies