A place in next season’s bloated Europa League — the competition replacing the UEFA Cup — may not seem attractive to everybody. But Hughes enjoyed City’s run to the last eight of the old competition this season and his re-energised team want to give it another shot.David Instone, The Independent
This was a peculiar game with the teams evenly matched but City winning well courtesy of a scrappy Felipe Caicedo goal, a classy Robinho shot and an Elano penalty awarded after what looked like accidental handball by Gael Givet.
Encouraging signs are materialising at Eastlands with a consistency not always associated with their half of Manchester, Blackburn Rovers becoming the victims of City's fourth straight win in all competitions and their 10th in 11 home games in League and Uefa Cup. Now victory at Everton has started to ease the utter embarrassment that has been their away form all season, supporters are daring to wonder whether a step-up is close.
Few would deny the presence of star quality. Even on an afternoon on which City began sluggishly and eased off as soon as they were given a major helping hand into a surprise three-goal lead, there were some memorable cameos.
Tim Rich, The Guardian
James Ducker, The TimesManchester City are at least finishing the campaign in better shape than in their single season under Sven-Goran Eriksson, when a challenge for the Champions League dissolved into games in which Fulham could score three times in 20 minutes and Middlesbrough eight in 90. The manager knew he was to be sacked and his players' future was bleakly uncertain.
There have been times when it was possible to imagine that this is how Mark Hughes's tenure might end, counting down the days until a chairman who did not appoint him could dispense with his services and turn to a Rijkaard, a Mourinho or an Ancelotti.
Instead, Hughes can argue that Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Abu Dhabi United have seen some progress for their money, especially at a club that last finished in the top three in 1977.
Imagine what City could be if Hughes fits his brilliant soloists into a collective with the same determined harmony as his old Blackburn Rovers side. Only Manchester United have won more home league games than City in this campaign; only Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion have won fewer away. No matter which celebrities City sign in the summer as part of their owners’ grand project, the aim is flair with consistency.Phil Shaw, Daily Telegraph
At home, City have won more matches and amassed more goals than anyone bar United, leaving the Welshman to bemoan their "frustrating" away form. Blackburn were ruthlessly picked apart in a 20-minute spell before half-time. Each of City's goals came from a South American, the Ecuadorean Felipe Caicedo opening the scoring, followed by Robinho and Elano.
The Brazilian performed like a man eager to press his claim for a new contract, whereas Hughes has remarked pointedly that he still has two years left on his present deal.
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