By Martyn Osmond
July 20 2004

Goalscorer James Milner and shootout winner Aaron Hughes today spoke on the victory. Both players took successful penalties in United's first shootout victory since defeating Middlesbrough in the JD Sports Cup in 1998. Milner, who scored with an excellent (left-footed) 20 yard strike in the second half against Kitchee, had this to say:

"Obviously the first thing for me was to play, but to get your first goal with your new club so quickly was nice.

"Shola went down the right and pulled it back, and I just managed to have a touch and get a good connection with my left foot and it went in the bottom corner.

"In terms of the trip itself, it has helped me get to know the lads and settle in a bit better than had we been training in Newcastle.

"I've had the chance to get to know everyone, and everyone has been really helpful and made me feel really welcome. It's been a very enjoyable trip.

"It's been difficult in a way because we haven't been back for long and then we've come out and played in this heat against two good, sharp teams.

"It has tested everyone's fitness but I think everyone's done really well.

"When I grew up I was playing on the right a lot because I'm right-footed, but last season, with Jermaine Pennant coming in and doing well on the right, I got switched to the left-hand side as I can use my left foot a bit.

"I enjoy playing on either flank really. Just to be playing is great. I just want to get as much football as I can this year and learn a lot. Hopefully I can become a better player and my target is to get as many games as I can."

Hughes, who's penalty miss cost United so dearly against Partizan Belgrade almost a year ago, was probably the happiest man in Hong Kong when he converted the winning spotkick. He said:

"That's what I was supposed to do against Belgrade, but that's by the by. This wasn't anywhere near as important as the Belgrade one but I'll be happy if they ever come round again to put one away like that."

"We came out here and it was important to get a bit of fitness. The conditions, especially the humidity, were very, very difficult.

"It's all about getting used to the conditions and pacing the game. You want to try and set the pace but obviously it's difficult when you've got players here who are used to it. They can control that a little bit better than we can.

"In the two second halves we've come on a lot stronger and hopefully we'll see the benefits of that.

"The lads have coped really well in the games - they've worked really hard. We've enjoyed a decent few days away so hopefully we can see the benefits when we get back. Only time will tell what we get out of it.

"With James Milner just coming into the team, it's been good for him to get to know all the players and in the two halves that he's played he has looked very good.

"We'll go back, get our feet up and then get a good week's training before we go down to Ipswich. Then we crack on again with another few games."