Fergie admits Hughes shock

United boss surprised by City counterpart

Last updated: 10th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fergie admits Hughes shock

Hughes: Ferguson surprise

Nobody here thought Mark Hughes would become a manager, never in a million years.

Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed that 'never in a million years' did he expect Mark Hughes to make the step up into management.

The Manchester United boss was at the helm of the Old Trafford outfit while the Manchester City manager was on the Red Devils' playing staff in his days as a marauding forward.

The Welshman has gone on to carve out a successful career in the dugout with spells at the helm of his national side, Blackburn Rovers and now City.

Hughes is the envy of many Premier League managers given the vast riches at his disposal as he is charged with the task of turning the Eastlands outfit into a Premier League force.

City are targeting a top-four finish this season and will face their bitter rivals in the two-legged Carling Cup semi-finals early next year.

That will pit veteran boss Ferguson against Hughes once again, with the Scot surprised at which of his charges have made a success of coaching.

Difficult

He told Inside United: "It's difficult to assess that because you don't know what ambitions the players have.

"Currently we've got (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes and (Gary) Neville taking their coaching badges. That's great and I encourage them to do that because it gives them a platform if they want to stay in the game.

"It can be difficult to pinpoint who would make it as a manager.

"For instance, nobody here thought Mark Hughes would become a manager, never in a million years, and we all thought Bryan Robson was a certainty to be a top manager."

Ferguson is still unsure as to who poses the greatest threat to United's bid for silverware this season, with both City and Chelsea boasting vast financial resources.

He added: "It's difficult to say with so much money coming into the game. Manchester City have millions, Chelsea have money and you can't count out anyone.

"You don't know where the next deluge of money's going to come from. You just have to say, 'Here's another challenge.' We won't be afraid of it."

Comments (2)

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John Mcarthur (Aberdeen fan) says...

If ever there was a reason to believe that Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager ever, just take a look around and see how many players who played under him are either managers or coaches in all levels of football in England and Scotland.He himself was not the greatest player in the world but nobody can deny hie acheivments both north and south of the border.

Posted 12:45 10th December 2009

James Hutchinson (Manchester United fan) says...

I am surprised that Fergie is shocked at Mark Hughe's success as a manager. Any footballer who has spent a number of years playing for Fergie must learn an awful lot just by watching the way he manages He is a genius and a lot must rub off on his players. Well done Sir Alex and well done Mark Hughes and the rest of the ex Man U playes out there in management.

Posted 12:05 10th December 2009
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