ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:MARK HUGHES has intensified the pressure on his successor at Manchester City by suggesting Roberto Mancini underachieved last season, insisting he would have earned his old club a Champions League place.
Speaking at his unveiling as the new Fulham manager yesterday, Hughes admitted he was “disappointed” to be sacked last December as he believed he was on course to exceed the club’s pre-season target of a sixth-place finish. City were sixth when the Welshman was replaced and under Mancini finished fifth, but when asked whether he would have steered the club to the Champions League, Hughes answered: “Yes, I think I would have. Fourth was very achievable.”
Hughes spoke without rancour but did not attempt to disguise his displeasure with the way his job was complicated at City, both by “the layers of management” and his lack of control over transfers.
“Some occasions at City, in fairness, some players were presented to me that I didn’t really have a direct influence in but when you get a phone call and someone says, ‘Would you like Robinho?’ you say: ‘Well, yeah’ but whether or not a situation like that was correct in terms of the timing and the development of the club at the stage is open to debate.”
Hughes was eager to distance himself from some of the extravagant transfers fees paid during his reign. “The figures are always quoted in terms of my record at Manchester City. I can quite understand that but the amounts paid weren’t really directly influenced by me. No one could have done a better job than me (at City) given the circumstances.”
Hughes ramped up the pressure on Mancini by insisting the Italian had to deliver a better finish this term and challenge for the title.
“Given the amount of investment they’ve already put into their playing staff, then certainly the top four has to be nailed on for them and really they should be looking to push on to win the Premier League,” he said.
Hughes is no less ambitious for his new club. He was initially reluctant to accept the job because he feared Fulham may have been lulled into complacency after reaching a record-high Premier League perch – seventh – and the Europa League final in the past two years under Roy Hodgson.
“After discussing things with Alistair Mackintosh (Fulham chief executive) my perception completely changed. I think they see an opportunity to build on what has gone on in the last couple of years and they want me, as the manager, to do that for them.
“Some managers like to downplay ambitions but I’ve never operated like that – the players and supporters need to know that something can be achieved.”
He has made it clear to his new chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, that achieving the initial target – a top-10 league finish this season – entails buying some new players.
“If you don’t add quality to a club you’ll stand still and people will overtake you.”
Fayed, who sold Harrods for €1.8 billion in the summer, has assured him money will beavailable – and demonstrated his commitment at yesterday’s press conference by thrusting a £50 note into Hughes’s hand.
Fayed said he would allow Hughes to exert the influence that the Welshman says he was denied at City. “You have to give people responsibility, that is very important,” the chairman said.
Guardian Service
