Soccer:Mark Hughes today claimed nobody could have done as good a job at Manchester City as he did during his 18 months in charge.
Hughes is back in management for the first time since being sacked by City last December after being appointed Fulham boss last week.
The 46-year-old insisted he was not bitter about his demise but had no doubt he would have achieved the target set by the Manchester club’s new mega-rich owners had he been given the chance.
Hughes’ reign spanned the transition between the ownership of Thaksin Shinawatra and Abu Dhabi United, his transfer budget rocketing overnight from next to nothing to being virtually without limit.
He lost his job just before Christmas following a run of two wins in 11 games, although the club were still well placed to break into the Premier League top four.
Speaking at his official unveiling as Fulham boss this afternoon, Hughes said: “I was disappointed because I felt I was doing a good job, given the circumstances that I found at the club and all the changes that we had to accommodate in my tenure there.
“I think no-one else could have done as good a job as I did, given the circumstances. I felt we were fully on track with the expectations of the owners.
“Unfortunately, maybe their mindset changed, and I wasn’t part of their plans.”
Hughes’ sacking was a messy affair in which news of him losing his job appeared to be leaked prior to what proved his final game in charge, December’s 4-3 win over Sunderland.
Asked if he would be prepared to shake City chief executive Garry Cook or owner Sheikh Mansour’s hand when the clubs meet this season, he said: “It wasn’t about personality, from my point of view.
“I had an opportunity and I felt I was fulfilling the role that I was asked. In the end, that opportunity was taken away from me and there was frustration because of that.
“But I don’t think the emotion of being bitter or frustrated by that was a good emotion. I wouldn’t be myself if I allowed that emotion to be within me.
“I’ve moved on, City have moved on, and I’m looking forward to a great season at Fulham Football Club.”
He added: “Sometimes relationships break down and that can have an effect on your position at the football club.
“I’ve come here, I feel very comfortable with the people I’m working with. Maybe one of the key elements to it is that I’m actually their man.
“Maybe that was one of the big things that went against me at City. I have no embarrassment whatsoever in terms of the job that I did at Man City.
“If you ask people there - people who are still there - they would agree with that situation.
“I would back my performance in terms of what I achieved there against anybody’s ability to get the same amount out of those players.”