Hughes calls for calm heads

City boss allays fan fears

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 22nd August 2008

Mark Hughes Manchester City

Hughes: Ignoring turmoil talk

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has urged supporters to ignore the club's perceived turmoil and not panic.

The Blues have been under the microscope in the early weeks of the season with off-the-field cash flow problems being compounded by defeat in the first leg of their Uefa Cup tie with Midtjylland and then conceding four goals in losing at Aston Villa in City's opening Premier League contest.

Sunday's home clash with West Ham is already being built up as a hugely significant litmus test of the team and the supporters, but the manager, who has been buoyed by Wednesday night's first face-to-face meeting with owner Thaksin Shinawatra, is remaining calm.

"There is a learning process still going on and we just need to settle down," he said. "There are a lot of things flying around at the moment and we need things to calm down a little. We are football people and we will get the football side right

"It is early in the season and we have to be positive and look at what is ahead of us. We fully intend to have a successful season and we are working to that end. We are establishing the direction in which we are going and making sure the team is nice and solid.

"It is a bit frenetic. People see us as an easy target at the moment and they are jumping on anything they can find. If they can't find it, then they are making it up.

"Our concentration as a football department is to win Premier League games and that is what we intend to do.

Villa loss

The former Blackburn and Wales boss feels the defeat to Villa should not be taken out of context.

"Not too much should be read into last week's game at Villa because I thought we did well in the first-half. Most sides will find it hard to go to Villa Park this season because of the personnel they have and the way they play. We will not be the last team to struggle there.

"It is early in the season and people have to calm down a little."

Manchester City v West Ham is exclusively live at 4pm on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1 as part of Super Sunday.