Source: SKY_Sports
Hughes - Fergie fury amusing
Mark Hughes has spoken of his amusement over Sir Alex Ferguson's irritation at how Manchester City have conducted themselves this season.
The Manchester United boss has made no secret of his disdain for his neighbours, having grown exasperated by what he perceives to be cocky and arrogant posturing on their part.
An official Man City club poster of Carlos Tevez under a 'Welcome to Manchester' banner, following the Argentine's defection from red to blue, is known to have infuriated Ferguson.
Hughes, who has been handed unprecedented transfer funds over the close-season, is far from apologetic with regards his club's behaviour, but on the contrary has stoked up the heat ahead of Sunday's derby which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.
"It does seem to have upset Sir Alex for some reason," he said of the Tevez poster.
"We take it as a little bit of flattery because maybe in recent years City have not affected the thinking of Manchester United. Possibly that has changed now.
"I am sure Sir Alex is sick and tired of people sticking a microphone under his nose and asking him about Man City rather than Man Utd. That has not happened in recent years.
"I can understand why he gets a bit irritated by it. That's quite amusing from my point of view."
It has been suggested City could suffer in terms of popularity because of their new-found riches but Hughes baulks at such an idea.
Instead he believes City - chasing a fifth successive victory in the league - should be applauded for providing a challenge to the established top four.
"All we are trying to do is make this football club better and stronger. If that irritates people, then we cannot do anything about someone's reaction.
"We try to go about our business in a correct way. Surely everyone must want a challenge from somewhere.
"For too long the top four has been set in stone. Maybe we should be given a little bit of encouragement in that regard.
"When you start winning games and are in a position to be strong people's opinion of you can change.
"I think with the nature of the football we produce we will gain fans along the way because we try and play in right way as we are attack-minded."
Hughes, in an evaluation that is only likely to irk Ferguson further, claims United are not the force they were following the departures of Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"They have lost two significant players from last year and any team will be affected by that," said the City boss. "You cannot afford to lose players of that standard and not replace them.
"I have watched a number of their games and don't think they are playing as well as they did last season.
"United's display against Tottenham (3-1 victory) was their stand-out performance. Prior to that they have been below par."
