Hughes wants result after break

26 February 2011 09:30

Mark Hughes admits his players must make amends for their 4-1 thrashing by Manchester City when the sides meet tomorrow to prevent this week's trip to Portugal being branded "a jolly".

Hughes took his side on a four-day mid-season training camp in a bid to kick-start a late surge up the Barclays Premier League table. Hughes is confident the camp will ultimately pay dividends but knows another heavy defeat against his former club on Sunday will raise questions about its value.

"You go for a break and the reasons for doing it are correct," he said.

"But if you get beaten then people think you've been on a jolly. That's always the danger.

"We are hoping to get the right reactions. It was good for the guys to get together.

"They have never been taken away and, as a consequence, they really enjoyed it.

"I think the staff had a few beers. I don't know about the players!

"Some of the guys had games of golf. Others went on boat trips and caught squid and other different types of fish.

"That wasn't something that appealed to me, I have to say, bobbing up and down on the Atlantic.

"But it was a good break. I really enjoyed it."

Source: PA