City Close To What Hughes Wants

11 April 2009 13:09
Mark Hughes insists his Manchester City side are only a couple of signings away from where he wants them to be at this stage of their development. Although the Blues' hopes of ending a 33-year trophy drought suffered a major setback on Thursday when they were beaten by Hamburg in the first leg of their UEFA Cup quarter-final, Hughes is refusing to get too downcast. The City boss has been forced to try to get supporters to lower their sky-high expectations following the massive investment from the Abu Dhabi United Group. However, he does feel the addition of players in a couple of key areas, including a bulky, reliable frontman to get the best out of Robinho and Shaun Wright-Phillips on a consistent basis, will make a major difference next term. "We are not too far away," said Hughes, who was speaking at coaching and signing session on behalf of Premier League sponsors Barclays. "We just need a couple of strong signings to address conspicuous issues in the team. "Maybe the acquisition of different types of players to the ones we have already got will leave us in better shape. "We are like most squads. The first 11 is very strong but if we get injuries, especially two in one position, we don't have enough strength in depth to cope." Hughes' squad is set to be tested like never before when City tackle Fulham on Sunday. Craig Bellamy, Wright-Phillips and Benjani Mwaruwari are all set to miss out from the side that slipped to that disappointing defeat in Germany. It gives the Blues chief more problems to wrestle with in what has turned out to be a very challenging year. Not that Hughes would have it any other way, even if, as has been the case for so many City managers down the years, he has learned to expect the unexpected. "I do enjoy it," said Hughes. "The speculation about what is going to happen in the future is not very helpful because it makes my job more difficult. "But day-to-day it tests you. "The art of management is to try and recognise when things are going to happen. Here they just happen and you have to be ready with the right response for every eventuality. "It makes you a better manager." With one avenue back into Europe ready to slam shut unless City can overturn a two-goal deficit at Eastlands next week, Hughes knows his team really must end their Premier League campaign with a flourish if they are to finish in that all-important seventh spot. To some, it would still represent failure. Only this week Martin Jol was talking about City as a top six club. Hughes feels the comments ignore reality. "People say things like that because of the perceived resources," he said. "We have added to the squad but Manchester City have never been above eighth in the league. "In a sense, we are trying to do something that has not been done before just by finishing seventh. "The assumption is made that we should be there and challenging now. That is not going to be the case. "The owners have said they don't anticipate us being ready to challenge for another couple of seasons." Question marks have been raised over Hughes' future, although not by City's owners who have, in fairness, expressed a desire to give the Welshman time. And Hughes is certain the hard work that has been done this year will pay long-term dividends. "It has been a big learning curve for everybody," he said. "There have been changes at every level. People have had to raise their game, or change the way they have worked, even when they have been successful. "In the long term we will all reap the benefits because the right things have been put in place to enable us to be successful. "The business structure was all over the place. That had to be a priority as well as the football side. "Hopefully now both aspects can go hand in hand and compliment each other." Mark Hughes was appearing at an official coaching and signing session for Barclays. Barclays is the title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League, which is watched by a global audience of 4.77billion throughout the season in more than 200 countries. www.barclayspremierleague.com

Source: Eurosport