City end UEFA Europa League campaign on a positive note

A much-improved performance was not enough to keep Manchester City in contention for the UEFA Europa League title on Thursday night.

City won the home leg of their match against Hamburg 2-1, but the result left the club one goal shy of the aggregate score that would have forced a penalty shootout with the German visitors.

Goals by Felipe Caicedo and Elano raised City’s goal aggregate for the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals to 3, but the 12th minute goal scored by Hamburg’s Paolo Guerrero proved to be the home side’s undoing, leaving them stranded on a 4-3 aggregate score.

City’s Stephen Ireland remained upbeat after the loss, hailing the improved showing by his club.

“We have to have that spirit every week,” Ireland told Sky News. “We have to pick ourselves up. We’ve got to get seventh if we can and not let this destroy our season.”

Following the match Manchester City officials revealed that manager Mark Hughes is likely to be given another season at the helm of the club despite failing to convert the club’s significant financial resources into results on the pitch.

Hughes’s mandate for the remainder of the season is to secure a top 10 finish for City in the Premiership, while the manager is expected to secure European qualification for his club in the 2009/2010 football season.