Hughton raves about Europa experience

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton has hailed his side’s Europa League campaign as a ‘great experience’.

The Championship club were dumped out of Europe despite a 1-0 home win against Maribor on Thursday.

In addition to winning, they needed either Sporting Braga or Club Brugge to win – but that match finished in a 1-1 draw.

“It’s been a terrific learning curve and a great experience,” Hughton told the club’s official website.

“I think we’re mostly happy for the supporters who have really enjoyed the experience and travelled in their thousands.”

“We’ve respected the tournament and there’s been a genuine excitement when we’ve gone into games particularly away games because you’re going to places that some of the players haven’t been to before and you’re experiencing a different type of football and a different type of atmosphere.”

“They’re the pluses and I think we’ll be better for it.”

Despite his pride in the squad, Hughton admitted he was disappointed that they had not qualified for the knockout stages.

“It’s disappointing because it doesn’t happen very often that teams get to ten points and then don’t go through,” he said.

“It just shows the quality of the group. The two teams that have gone through are the ones with a lot of European experience and to be right up there pushing on the last day was all we could ask.”

“Luck can always play a part, but generally the teams that go through are the teams that deserve it. I think the last group day before this one when we should have got a result at Braga and there was an incredible result in Maribor was perhaps the turning point in the group.”

The former Newcastle boss also praised the efforts of 17-year-old Nathan Redmond who starred in Thursday’s win.