Looking forward to this evening

Mark Hughes:

"So if you are able to win a trophy, that shows you are making progression. But it is a big ask and Hamburg are a good team. Players want to play in Europe year on year in the Champions League. We won't be able to offer that next year but in the future that is obviously the aim...

"Staying in the league in the past was deemed as success. But now, in the future, the club needs success and that is what we are all aiming to bring here.

"It is not going to happen overnight but we are progressing in Europe and reaching the latter stages of this competition this season will help us.

"We won't be able to win the tie tonight but it is possible we could lose it. We need to make sure we are in a decent position in the tie when we go back to Eastlands and, hopefully, have a great European night because we have not had that many over the years."

Richard Dunne:

"We have to ignore that it is Hamburg, a big stage in a country where football is huge. We have to go there strong in our minds and remembering that on our day we can beat anyone. This is the tie of the round. Hamburg are probably one of the better sides left in the competition but we feel we can beat them over two legs and that we have a real chance of lifting the trophy.

"When we started back in July the UEFA Cup did seem as though it was a bit of an endless competition and we seem to have been to Denmark an awful lot but we have come through and we know we are on the brink of a possible semi-final spot and a realistic chance of winning the whole thing."

"We have to have the belief that we can win," he asserted. "For us to progress as a club and be seen to be progressing we have to go to places like Hamburg with a massive crowd against us and put in a strong performance. It has to be one full of character and one in which we display all our talents."

Micah Richards:

"We are more stable now and I do not think the pressure affects the players. We just give 100% every game.

"Hopefully we can take our home form into this game and get the result we need. This is a crucial match for us as we need a good result here. It is important to keep a clean sheet and if we could nick a goal that would be great.

"The UEFA Cup means a hell of a lot to the players. We have come this far and don't want to give it up."