Massimiliano Allegri was relieved after his AC Milan side qualified for the latter stages of the Champions League with one game to spare.
The Rossoneri's 3-1 victory at Anderlecht means that they cannot be caught by either Wednesday night's opponents or Zenit St Petersburg, and will go through as runners up behind Group C winners Malaga.
Stephan El Shaarawy and a stunning Philippe Mexes bicycle kick put the Serie A side in control at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, and although the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Bram Nuytinck saw red, Tom de Sutter's strike 12 minutes before time brought the Belgian side back into the contest.
Substitute Alex Pato netted in added time to seal the win and their progression, however Allegri knows his team were far from perfect.
"We did well even if at the end we suffered a bit, something that shouldn't happen," he told the club's official website.
"This is a step that the team has to take, improving in possession of the ball.
"I'm happy for the team and the club which has achieved the first target of the season with a game in hand. It was important not to get to the last match with it all to play for against Zenit.
"We need more experience which we'll get as we're young."
And Allegri praised two of his goalscorers and was surprised to see Mexes' effort end up in the back of the net.
"When Mexes took that shot, I thought it went wide but he scored," the boss added.
"He was criticised harshly after Fiorentina and in the last two games he has played very well. Pato took a knock but it shouldn't be anything serious.
"This was a good game for him to come off the bench and he showed that. In the changing rooms, I simply said that maybe I hadn't explained myself."
Things have not gone to plan for the west Londoners this season, with a summer of hope abruptly ended by a winless start to the season.
QPR have started the campaign without victory in any of their 12 Premier League matches and they prop up the table with just four points.
Such poor form has seen manager Hughes' position come under increasing scrutiny and Nelsen knows his players have to react, starting this weekend at Manchester United.
"When the pressure is on, players have to take responsibility," he told the club's official website.
"It doesn't matter who you're playing, the Premier League is just unforgiving. You've got to earn your right to play and win.
"You've got to be strong mentally and have the confidence to do something in the game at both ends of the park."
That mental strength was far from evident last weekend as QPR fell to an embarrassing 3-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton.
The players' perceived lack of effort against Saints saw the Loftus Road faithful turn on their players, chanting 'you're only here for the money' and 'Ryan Nelsen, he plays on his own'.
"I thought we were poor in both boxes to be honest," Nelsen said of the performance.
"We were all extremely disappointed. You get punished no matter who you're playing in this league.
"The players have to hold complete responsibility for last weekend. When it mattered most, we just didn't stand up.
"You've got to defend and attack the ball and we just didn't get on the end of anything.
"Every game from now until the end of the season is a 'stand up and be counted' game.
"Every player's got to hold their hands up and do everything they can for this club to get out of where we are."
The 21-year-old left-back, who has just completed a loan spell at League Two rivals Chesterfield, will stay at New York until January 12.
Millers boss Steve Evans has turned to Ridehalgh after loanee Josh Morris was injured in Tuesday's night's dismal defeat to Wycombe.
"It's no hidden secret that I tried to sign Liam earlier in the season, but for one reason or another we couldn't get it done at that time," Evans said.
"He has recently been at Chesterfield where he has been outstanding, and when I got news that he was returning to Huddersfield, I moved quickly to bring him to New York."
