Source: Daily_Mail
Mark Hughes can't resist a late dig at former club Manchester City after taking over at Fulham
Mark Hughes began a new chapter in his managerial career at Fulham on Tuesday, but there was still time for one last swipe at the club that sacked him seven months ago. [LNB]Hughes said Manchester City would have achieved a Champions League spot if he had been allowed to see out the season. [LNB]Instead, Roberto Mancini's side finished fifth in the Barclays Premier League and saw Tottenham earn the right to a play-off fixture to secure entry to Europe's top club competition. If Hughes isn't quite bitter, he certainly lived up to his nickname, Sparky.[LNB] Ful of it: Mark Hughes can't wait to get started in his new role as Fulham manager[LNB]Asked whether he would have steered City to the Champions League, the46-year-old said: 'Yes, I think I would have. [LNB]'I agreed to the targets at the beginning of the season, which was toget to sixth position. I agreed to that because I thought we could over-achieve. I thought fifth, possibly fourth, was very, very achievable. [LNB]'Given the amount they've invested in playing staff, certainly finishing in the top four has to be nailed on for them and really they should be looking to win the Premier League.'[LNB]But Hughes' position looked doubtful from the time the Abu Dhabi United Group bought City in September 2008, just three months after the Welshman had joined the club from Blackburn Rovers. [LNB]Hands on: Hughes gets acquainted with chairman Mohamed Al Fayed[LNB]'When the money from the Middle East came in expectations rose very, very quickly,' he said. 'It was difficult to match those in the short-term. In all honesty, the infrastructure, the playing staff and the people around the club weren't of (sufficient) quality.' [LNB]But last summer, with Hughes still in charge, Manchester City spent £117million on players such as Kolo Toure, Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott and Emmanuel Adebayor. [LNB]Fulham's budget is less than £20m, but Hughes defended his record in the transfer market and said he is relishing the opportunity to have a more hands-on approach once again.[LNB]He said: 'Fulham is not as tough as managing Manchester City, but I was in a similar role at Blackburn. The budgets I'll be dealing with will be significantly lower than what I've had in the last couple of years, but I will try to build on what's been achieved. Look at my record in terms of my spending at Blackburn and it will compare with anybody. [LNB]'My role changed in terms of player acquisition (at City). I was more about recommending players than doing deals. I wouldn't recommend how much should be paid.[LNB]'People always quote my record in terms of spending at Man City but I don't always understand that. The amounts paid were not directly influenced by me. On some occasions at City, players were presented to me who I didn't really have a direct input on. [LNB]'But you get a phone call and someone says, "Would you like Robinho?" As a manager, yes, I would.' [LNB]SPARKY'S BIG ISSUES 1. HOLD ON TO SCHWARZER: The Fulham goalkeeper was a big target for Arsenal recently, but Hughes is confident he can hang on to him.[LNB] 2. TRY TO KEEP KONCHESKY: The left back has attracted interest from Liverpool and Birmingham, but Hughes hopes he will stay at Craven Cottage[LNB]3. BIG BID FOR BELLAMY: Hughes has managed Craig Bellamy at club and international level. He'd love to have him again, but it would cost...[LNB] Hughes was sacked last December with City in sixth place, in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup but with Mancini waiting in the wings. [LNB]'Obviously I was disappointed because I felt I was doing a good job,'he said. 'I feel that no one else could have done as good a job as I did given the circumstances. There was disappointment because I wasn't able to see the job through.' [LNB]Pointing the way: Hughes gets to work[LNB]The former Manchester United and Chelsea forward admitted that takingover from Roy Hodgson did not appeal at first. But, after discussions with chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, he was convinced Fulham was a club with serious ambition. [LNB]Hughes said he feels like 'their man'. It is clear he never felt like that at City. He said: 'My perception of Fulham was different from the reality of the situation. I thought they'd been punching above their weight the last two years. [LNB]'The Premier League is expensive and you need resources to energise the team. If you stand still you get overtaken and that was the reassurance I needed.' [LNB]Hodgson led Fulham to seventh place, their highest-ever finish, in 2009, then secured 12th and saw his side lose to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final last season.[LNB]Hughes sees 10th place as a realistic target for this campaign and said the club are 'actively looking' for new players to help them achieve this aim. [LNB]He admitted Craig Bellamy, a player Hughes managed at City, Blackburnand at international level with Wales, was probably 'out of Fulham's league' but said he was hoping to bolster the club's attacking options. [LNB]Bobby Zamora, who became a father of twins this week, was the club's topscorer in the League last season with eight goals and Andrew Johnson isstill battling to recover from a knee operation. [LNB] Hughes also insisted goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who has been linked with Arsenal, and left back Paul Konchesky, who has attracted interest from Birmingham and Liverpool, would stay at the club. [LNB]Fulham have expressed an interest in Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop, who had a medical at Ipswich Town yesterday, but are now confident of keeping Schwarzer. [LNB]'We are in a position where we don't have to sell our better players,' insisted Hughes. 'We want to progress and we are not in the position of letting our best players leave. Mark falls into that category.'[LNB] Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed rounds on former boss Roy HodgsonSign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsSo, what's it like to play for Mark Hughes? Sparky's former stars have their say...Mark Hughes will bring in a bright new era at Fulham insists Jonathan GreeningHughes will spark Fulham's charge back into Europe, insists PantsilFULHAM FC
