Hughes praises strikers after City victory

Manchester City became the first English club to qualify for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, after a 2-0 victory over FC Schalke saw the club move out of reach of the 4th and 5th placed clubs in Group A.

Benjani and Stephen Ireland scored for City as the club notched up its second victory over a top flight club in the space of a week. The victory will have given Mark Hughes’ men confidence going into this weekend’s Premier League match against Manchester United.

”I am very happy,” Hughes told ESPN after the match. ”This week was a great week. We beat Arsenal comprehensively and we came here knowing it was a very difficult game on paper. But we coped with the game quite easily. We were always in control and never allowed Schalke any real opportunities.”

Hughes singled his strike force out for praise after they put in a brilliant performance despite the absence of the injured Robinho.

”I thought the work of the front three - just as the whole team performance - was outstanding from start to finish,” he said. ”Benjani, Sturridge and Vassell were excellent tonight. They understood how to change positions and understood that when we were out of possession, we had to regain it quickly.”