Manchester City manager Mark Hughes furious with players

17 February 2009 11:09
City slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park over the weekend to a Portsmouth side who had not won a game since November, and Hughes was left furious that his players appeared to have taken no notice of his pre-match guidelines. [LNB]"I was angry because we worked really hard all week to give the players lots of information and an understanding of the game," he said. "But on Saturday that was not taken on board. [LNB]"If you veer away from what you're trying to do then on occasions you will be exposed and we didn't get anything like the performance on Saturday and in the end got what we deserved - nothing. [LNB]"We have to have variation in the way we play and we cannot just pass and probe. It's frustrating because we see good signs and then, away from home we're disappointing. It has got to stop."[LNB]Meanwhile, City are set to open contract talks with Stephen Ireland in light of his performances so far this season. [LNB]Talks between the player and club are expected to start once Hughes and the board have discussed Ireland's salary which, currently standing at £26,000-a-week, is not thought to reflect his contributions. [LNB]It has not been two years since Ireland last agreed a new deal with the Eastlands club, but according to the Independent[LNB], City's board hold the view that Hughes must make all contract decisions, and therefore an offer of £50,000-a-week is likely. [LNB]The Republic of Ireland midfielder made his senior debut for City against Bolton Wanderers in Sept 2005, having come up through the ranks of the club's youth team. [LNB]

Source: Telegraph