Hughes set top-six target

Mark Hughes has been set the target of guiding Manchester City to a top-six finish next season. City currently find themselves in tenth place with one Premier League game still to play; a position that has seen question marks raised over Hughes' future at Eastlands. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insists he is fully behind Hughes and willing to back him unequivocally in the transfer market this summer. Although he will be expecting improvement next term, as he believes to finish in the top six is well within the club's capabilities. "I think a reasonable target next season is the top six," he told the club's official website. "I think people see me as a reasonable and realistic man, and I think given what we have done this year and the ambitions we have this summer, a top-six finish next year should be a reasonable and achievable target. "There will be money for new players this off-season. The areas in which the team needs us to invest are clear. We need more depth and to fill the weaker areas within the squad and plans are already advanced. "I have been talking to Garry (Cook, chief executive) and Mark for weeks now. We are pretty clear on what we want, and I am clear on what Mark has identified as the areas that need to be supported, and we will step up." Al Mubarak has been quick to reject claims of possible outlandish spending in the close-season and is adamant unrealistic expectations will not be placed on Hughes and his players. "We all know we are not going to splash money around, because that model, that formula, doesn't work. You're not going to buy 22 new players and then the next year you win the Premier League. "It needs to be done sustainably, with quality management, quality infra-structure and a quality manager by the pitch. That's what we are doing. The players will come, and the results will come."

Source: SKY_Sports