Source: Telegraph
Manchester City rubbish Jose Mourinho Eastlands deal reports
Uefa Cup: Hamburg SV v Manchester CityKick-off: Thurs Apr 9, 7.45pm, HSH Nordbank Arena, HamburgTV: ITV4Radio: BBC Radio Five Live [LNB]It is believed in Italy that the Portuguese is considering leaving Inter Milan after one season following rows with journalists and rival managers, leading to reports that he may be ready to return to the Premier League. [LNB] Related ArticlesCity hand Sturridge final contract offerKaka eyes Premier League moveRobinho must copy PelePolice to take 'no further action' against RobinhoManchester Citys Mark Hughes insists he has full backing of clubs Arab ownersManchester City can turn things around to be like Chelsea, says Shay GivenSources at Stamford Bridge suggest many senior players at Chelsea have lobbied owner Roman Abramovich in an attempt to secure an emotional homecoming for Mourinho, but City moved to distance themselves from speculation that they might try to tempt one of the most famous managers in the world to lead Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Eastlands revolution. [LNB]The club's Arab owners are believed to be prepared to allow Hughes time to rebuild the squad, with a clear-out of up to 16 senior players expected this summer. [LNB]The Welshman has been linked with the putative vacancy at Sunderland, where manager Ricky Sbragia is under pressure, but City remain adamant that Hughes is part of their long-term future. [LNB]His position would be strengthened further should he find a way past German title contenders Hamburg, managed by former Tottenham coach Martin Jol, in the Uefa Cup quarter-finals, the first leg of which is on Thursday night. [LNB]If they are to do so, City must improve their woeful away form. While City's performances on foreign territory in Europe have helped ease the pain of a winless domestic run away from Eastlands which stretches back to September, a second-leg defeat at AaB Aalborg in the last round suggests they need to sharpen up their act. [LNB]"We will have to be markedly better when we play Hamburg than we were against Arsenal at the weekend," Hughes said. "We have 12 games left and we want to finish the season in the right manner. We want to be able to look back at this campaign and say we've made progress."[LNB]After six months out because of a knee injury, sustained on international duty, Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov has travelled with the City squad to Germany, which will call further into question British record signing Robinho's immediate first-team prospects. [LNB]The Brazilian is without a goal this year and has been underwhelming away from home. Despite displaying a markedly improved appetite for work in the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates, Petrov would give Hughes the option of dropping the unpredictable winger. But club captain Richard Dunne last night defended Robinho, insisting expectations were too high. [LNB]He said: "Every stadium we go to, people are expecting him to do amazing things. It's not going to happen all the time. He's probably feeling the pressure of having to keep proving himself. Once he relaxes he will be fine."[LNB]Team details[LNB]Manchester City (probable, 4-2-3-1): Given; Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge; Zabaleta, Elano; Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Robinho; Bojinov.Hamburg (probable, 4-1-2-1-2): Rost; Demel, Gravgaard, Mathijsen, Aogo; Tavares; Pitroipa, Jansen; Jarolim; Guerrero, Olic. [LNB]
