HUGHES - I AM A BIG NAME
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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes insists he is a big enough name to guide the club to where they want to be.
Hughes was already at City when Abu Dhabi United Group took charge at Eastlands with the promise of transforming the club into one of Europe's elite.
Speculation has been rife since they took charge that they would be looking to replace Hughes, in favour of a more high-profile coach.
But some eight months on, Hughes remains at the helm and he insists he has a big enough 'profile' to suit the club.
"Maybe my profile in Europe is a bit bigger than some people might suggest," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"Three of the clubs I played for are in the Champions League semi-finals, so I think that underlines my credentials in terms of working with the best players at the biggest clubs.
"We want to bring in stars that will get everybody excited, but there are still elements of the squad that need strengthening.
"We have seen improved results since we added to the squad in January and we are hopeful of acquiring the players we want in the summer. If we succeed, then with the gains we have made this year, we will be much stronger."
No risk
He insists that the club's hierarchy have never intimated to him that his job is at risk.
"I have had no indication that I won't be here next season, but why shouldn't I be?" Hughes said.
"I'll be really disappointed if I am not, simply because of what we have gone through and the things we have had to face before coming through the other side.
"They [Abu Dhabi] have told me to get on with the job and that's what I'll be doing.
"My dealings with Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon are very amicable, but ever since I came through the door, I have been consistent in my message that it is going to take a long time to be where we want to be."
Hughes insists that he has done a lot of hard work behind the scenes and he wants to see the results of what he has already put in place.
"We have done the pain this season, now we want to see the fruits of our labour," he said.
"We have come a hell of a long way in a short period of time and that stimulates us because we have done a decent job here and it is nowhere near finished.
"The turnover of managers here hasn't helped continuity, because they have never had any. Basically, change is expected here. Change for the sake of change.
"One of the things I realised when I came here was that there were not enough things in place to enable this club to be successful in the future.
"I'm honest enough to admit that it has taken longer than I expected to change that. We are trying to get the message out that, unlike other clubs, we are starting from the ground level. Maybe people don't want to hear that, though, because it's easier to put pressure on our situation if those things aren't highlighted."
I agree, i do think he is a reasonably big name in european football.
