Source: Daily_Mail
UAE 1 Man City 0: Hughes' side flop in front of Sheik Mansour
Manchester City were watched by owner Sheik Mansour for the first time, and they lost.[LNB]The man whose money has made City the world's richest football club was at the Zayed Sports City Stadium to see Mark Hughes's team take on the United Arab Emirates national side.[LNB]With City fielding just one regular first-team player in Stephen Ireland, they were always up against it in front of a 26,000 sell-out crowd.[LNB] Costly error: Manchester City's goalkeeper Stuart Taylor brings down UAE skipper Saeed Al-Kas[LNB]The game's only goal came from a penalty, needlessly given away by reserve goalkeeper Stuart Taylor in the ninth minute.[LNB]Meanwhile, City chief executive Garry Cook has admitted regrets atthe way he handled his early months in the job, notably his claim thatAC Milan had 'bottled it' over the proposed sale of Kaka to theEastlands club.[LNB] Chelsea, United, Liverpool and City prepare to pounce for Aaron Hunt as Werder Bremen fear contract talks will founderMan City warned it will cost £36m to prise Di Maria away from Benfica 'I underestimated the damage and the impact that comments can have on the entire club,' said Cook.[LNB]'I haven't changed my ambition and my goals and my confidence, even though sometimes that is deemed to be arrogance.[LNB]'But do I regret some things I've said? And have I made mistakes? Yes. That's how you learn.'[LNB]If City are taking time to become a genuine Premier League force,then Cook believes last month's derby at Old Trafford was a huge stepin the right direction.[LNB]City may have lost 4-3 but the game featured Carlos Tevez, a playertaken from United at great expense, and was preceded by a billboardcampaign that infuriated United.[LNB]The 'Welcome to Manchester' poster featuring Tevez prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to describe City as a 'noisy neighbour'.[LNB] Net return: Mohamed Al-Shihi celebrates scoring from the penalty spot[LNB]Cook said: 'We didn't quite think it was going to happen, thatimpact. But this club has a personality it's young, fresh, there'shumour and the poster wasn't meant vindictively.'[LNB]Soon Cook hopes to be side by side with United in the Champions League. [LNB]'Everybody goes to United and hopes they can beat one of the greatteams,' he said. 'I want people to come to Manchester City and fear theclub. There's a good opportunity to reach the Champions League, thebest for a long time.'[LNB] Big name: Pablo Zabaleta was only one of three first-team players in a young City side[LNB]And if that puts even greater pressure on Hughes, Cook feels the manager has already shown he can cope.[LNB]'I don't think I have seen anyone handle themselves in public with such dignity and integrity as Mark Hughes,' he said.[LNB]'Alex Ferguson has a mental strength that is different to youraverage person and Mark Hughes has it, too. If they share anything thenthat's it.'[LNB] Chelsea, United, Liverpool and City prepare to pounce for Aaron Hunt as Werder Bremen fear contract talks will founderMan City warned it will cost £36m to prise Di Maria away from Benfica[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Alex Ferguson, Carlos Tevez, MARK HUGHES, Stuart TaylorPlaces:Manchester
