Hughes fed up with speculation

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes insists he has been given assurances by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak that he will be in charge of the club next season. Al Mubarak held talks with Hughes the night before City's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Tottenham, with Robbie Keane grabbing a late winner from the penalty spot after Micah Richards had fouled Fraizer Campbell. Valeri Bojinov had stepped off the bench for City to level after Jermain Defoe back-heeled Tottenham in front, only for Keane to strike late on. "I talked at length with him (on Friday)," Hughes said. "The situation is as it always has been - we're very clear with where we want to go with the club and what direction we are taking on and off the field. "We are in tune with that we want to do, but we are totally frustrated and bemused by the speculation. It's come to a point where everyone has to understand that Mark Hughes will be the manager here next year. That has been made very clear to me. "There has been too much speculation about players and my future. It has made my job more difficult than it already is. I would like to think speculation about my future will be at a lesser level because it has been unhelpful."