City prospects excite Hughes
05 Jun 2008 - 15:24:48
Mark Hughes believes he has joined a club that can match his ambition as a manager after swapping Blackburn Rovers for Manchester City.
The 44-year-old former Wales boss was confirmed as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor on a three-year contract at Eastlands before facing the media on Thursday morning.
Hughes had been in charge at Ewood Park since September 2004 and transformed the club from relegation candidates to top-six contenders.
However, the former Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea striker now believes he has found a club to match his ambition of managing at the very top level after being unveiled in the City hot-seat.
"I had a fantastic time at Blackburn," he admitted. "But once Manchester City made their intentions known I was very focused on getting the opportunity to come to the club
"It was difficult on occasions with the amount of finance available. I knew limit to how far I could take club and it's a case now that I'm at club that can match my ambitions.
"I've been at a club that has had three top 10 finishes and three cup semi-finals and I want to move on from that and start winning trophies.
"The ambition of the club is to challenge at the top table - not only in this country but in Europe."
Meanwhile, Hughes claims he is excited by the prospect of working with high-profile players following suggestions from ambitious owner Thaksin Shinawatra that he would like to lure Brazil superstar Ronaldinho to the club.
Shinawatra is planning a move for the unsettled Barcelona forward and also fellow countryman Jo from CSKA Moscow.
"There's a lot of talk about the quality of players that can come here," he continued.
"If they're available at the right price then I will be interested."