Mark Hughes keen to drive Fulham forward
New Fulham manager Mark Hughes has given his first press conference since arriving at Craven Cottage last week, and spoke about the possibility of new signings, the future of Fulham and former club Manchester City.
The Welshman started by saying that he was “keen to get back into work” after spending eight months out of the game. Hughes was sacked at Eastlands before the turn of the new year, despite only losing two league games in the first half of last season.
Nevertheless, Hughes made it clear that he bears no grudges towards his previous employers, but insisted that he feels proud of the job than him and his staff done at the City of Manchester Stadium.
“I’ve got no embarrassment of the job I done at Man City,” he said. “I’ve moved on, City have moved on.”
As for his new club, Hughes stated that continuing to help the club progress was his main priority. Following in the footsteps of Roy Hodgson promises to be tough challenge, but one which the new Fulham boss is more than ready for. “I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve inherited,”Hughes commented. “We want to drive the club forward and make sure Fulham is a top-10 club on a regular basis. We don’t want the last two seasons to be standout seasons.”
In the few days that Hughes has been at Craven Cottage, speculation has been rife over which players the manager will look to bring in. The likes of Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch have all been linked with a move, and Hughes confirmed that the club are keen to sign at least one more striker before the transfer window closes.
“It is fair to say we need more attacking options and everyone knows that good quality strikers come at a premium,” he added. “I will have to talk nicely to my chairman.”
It seems likely that Hughes will be granted his wish by Fulham chairman, Mohammed Al Fayed, who said in the press conference that he believes the former Wales manager is the man to lead the Cottagers to the league title. Lofty ambitions, indeed.
Fulham supporters will also have been buoyed by Hughes’ comments regarding goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. The 37-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, but Hughes suggested that the Australia international will still be a Fulham player come the start of the season.
“We’re in a position where we don’t have to sell our better players,” he confirmed.
Hughes’ first competitive match in charge of the club will be against Bolton Wanderers on the first day of the Premier League season, followed by a daunting home tie against Manchester United.
On the evidence of this press conference, though, the Welshman is relishing being back in football management, and is eagerly awaiting the start of the new campaign.
Hughes will now be determined to prove his doubters wrong and justify Al Fayed’s decision to put his faith in him.
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