The Daily Mirror report that Mark Hughes is looking forward to the challenge of making Manchester City a force to be reckoned with. However, the former Blackburn Rovers manager has hinted that he could instead have been in the hotseat at Old Trafford, if Sir Alex Ferguson hadn’t decided to take longer than Tony Blair to step down from office.
The Welshman was a Man United hero during his playing days, winning a stack of silverware with the Red Devils. He’s regularly been linked with potentially replacing Fergie at Old Trafford, although Sparky knows that time waits for no man.
“I can’t wait around for opportunities which may be one, two, five, 10 years down the line,” said Hughes.
“When opportunities present themselves, you have to take them. If you don’t, you then regret them for the rest of your life.
“This opportunity is perfect for me. It’s the right club at the right stage in their development to go forward.
“People will inevitably talk about my United connections, but I have played at other clubs. I’ve got Chelsea connections and connections at all the clubs I’ve played at.
Even if Hughes had badly wanted to manage United, there was no guarantee that he would have become Ferguson’s replacement. Indeed, it’s perfectly natural to assume that he got wind that Carlos Queiroz was being lined up as the new Red Devils manager, thus forcing Hughes’ hand and nudging him into the direction of Man City instead.