|
|
樓主 |
發表於 2009-4-17 20:05:16
|
顯示全部樓層
Man City owners to give Hughes another season
Manchester City's manager Mark Hughes has been told he will not be sacked in the summer, despite being knocked out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.
Speculation was rife that the City manager would be removed at the end of the current campaign after a disappointing season, but chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has told Hughes he will be given another season to prove his worth at Eastlands.
City's last chance for silverware this season ended when, despite beating Hamburg 2-1 on the night, the German Bundesliga side progressed to the UEFA Cup semi-finals beating a spirited City 4-3 on aggregate.
Hamburg extended their aggregate lead in the quarter-final to 4-1 through Paolo Guerrero after just 11 minutes. However City battled back and goals from Elano (penalty) and Felipe Caicedo in the 16th and 50th minutes gave them hope.
At full-time Al Mubarak led the applause, clearly impressed with the effort Hughes managed to extract from his players.
Ahead of the game Hughes held talks with Al Mubarak to discuss the club's future, during which the manager was told he would be given more time to deliver success to the club which was sensationally bought last year by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
In the months since the takeover last August, Hughes has had much to contend with from trying to manage the talented but temperamental £32m-signing Robinho to the month-long speculation surrounding the failed transfer bid for Kaka.
While no specific timeframe was given to Hughes, it is understood that Abu Dhabi United Group will expect a dramatic improvement in the club's fortunes next season.
The Daily Telegraph report that during the meeting Hughes was asked which players he deemed surplus to requirements, a list believed to include Elano, Benjani Mwaruwari and Darius Vassell.
The club's owners have been largely impressed with Hughes success in the transfer market buying more functional players, however they are expected to press ahead with the plans to sign marquee name players this summer; Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery are thought to be top of their list.
Speaking after the game against Hamburg Hughes said of his earlier meeting with Al Mubarak: ''It was fine, I am still here. It was big night for everyone at the club for obvious reasons. We needed to make a statement and I think we did that with the level of our performance.
''It was important we came out and showed people there are things happening here and we have ability.
''When in the future we are able to produce it on a regular basis we will be a very difficult side to overcome. It is the beginning of long journey.''
Hughes was proud of his players' performance, saying: ''It was a really poor start but we did not let that affect us. We picked ourselves up and got back on level terms very quickly.
''There was a real sense that we were trying to make something special happen and we almost achieved that goal. But unfortunately we did not get that break when we needed it.''
Hamburg coach Martin Jol was delighted to clinch a semi-final against Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen.
''We started off very well and the goal helped a lot,'' said the former Tottenham Hotspur boss. ''Then we had a penalty given against us, which was a bit harsh.
''We knew if they got another goal it would be exciting again and that is what happened. But they did not score a third and that was great. I think over two legs we were the better side.'' |
|
IP卡
狗仔卡
發表於 2009-4-17 03:59:12
顯身å¡
發表於 2009-4-17 13:17:01
發表於 2009-4-18 00:16:07
