Confident City looking to upset the odds

Manchester City FC manager Mark Hughes is not an obvious choice for the role of game-show host, but as he looked ahead to the UEFA Cup quarter-final tie with Hamburger SV he produced a line that would have graced the format: "If you're in it, then you've got to try and win it."

European ambition 
There is a sense that this could be a season-defining moment for Hughes's enigmatic Blues. Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal FC left City tenth in the Premier League, their hopes of returning to Europe next term in the balance. Hughes, however, has a backup plan. "It's important the club are in Europe next season, for our profile," said the Welshman, whose eagerness was illustrated by his arrival, 20 minutes early, for the pre-match press conference. "We are probably fighting for seventh, which I expect would be enough; but I'd rather qualify for the Europa League as UEFA Cup holders."

Schalke omens 
The visitors, Hughes concedes, have their work cut out. While at Tottenham Hotspur FC, Hamburg coach Martin Jol won six out of six against the Eastlands club, and the Arsenal reverse left City with just one win in their last 19 away matches in all competitions. The solitary exception, however, came in Germany, with a 2-0 group-stage victory against FC Schalke 04. "Every one of our players needs to perform," said Hughes, who has injury doubts over Stephen Ireland (ankle) and Wayne Bridge (hamstring) although Martin Petrov is in the reckoning after six months out. "We've done that at home this season but less so away. One of our best away performances this season was against Schalke, though, and I hope for more of the same."

'Talented team' 
That was City's second trip to Germany this season having lost to Hamburg in a pre-season friendly, a game both bosses agree will have no bearing come Thursday. Nigel de Jong was in the HSV lineup that day, and while he is ineligible and another ex-Hamburg man, Vincent Kompany, is injured, Hughes has plundered both for insight on their former employers. Jol, of course, needs no introduction to City. "When Robinho has the ball at his feet he's one of the best [in the world]," the Dutchman said. "Then there's Shaun Wright-Phillips, Elano too, and Ireland is an excellent player. They're fast and though we may drop players back to cope, we don't tend to play too differently in Europe to the Bundesliga. So far it's worked very well."

Keegan link
Indeed it has; Kevin Keegan, the former City manager still idolised in these parts following his exploits at HSV between 1977 and 1980, could not have put it better himself – "alles gute", he has added to his likeness in the foyer at the Arena Hamburg. A 1-0 victory against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at the weekend lifted Jol's side to second in the Bundesliga, and the coach heralded a growing belief among his players. "The Hoffenheim win was pleasing, but is merely the latest in a very good sequence," said the 53-year-old, whose defence will be shorn of the suspended Jerome Boateng and the injured Alex Silva, but strengthened by the returning Collin Benjamin with forward José Paolo Guerrero also declared fit. "We really want to achieve something this season."