Hughes – City Haven’t Progressed

On the eve of City’s clash at Fulham, former City boss Mark Hughes has claimed the blues would have been better off under him than they are under Roberto Mancini.

Hughes, who is now in charge at Fulham, was sacked last December and instantly replaced by Mancini. It wasn’t so much the shock of Hughes’ dismissal that dismayed many, but the manner of his departure and the fact that Mancini had already agreed to replace him that was the cause of so much anger.

And Hughes now claims that the current City team have fared no better than when he was in charge. “They made the change with the view that they wanted to accelerate the process of getting success. That doesn’t seem to have happened,” said the Welshman. “I know what I left behind, that the club and the group of players I had there was good enough to hit the targets I was given.”

Speaking about his dismissal last year, Hughes criticised the way the club handled the situation, saying he would never discuss an occupied position and called for some level of respect within the game. “It’s not something that sits comfortably with me,” said Hughes. “I don’t think I’ve ever done it. There should be respect for people’s positions. If clubs come and ask if you’re interested in the job, I’d always say I wasn’t aware there was a vacancy.”

Meanwhile Mancini has defended his record by claiming City are stronger under his management. “We have improved a lot. We have won a lot of away games. We are in fourth position, two points behind Manchester United. I think we will get into the Champions League and probably win something.”

Don’t forget to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter