Aside from the purchase of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Mark Hughes has not really been responsible for the signings that Manchester City made over the summer, while he obviously inherited a squad which was not of his own making or design. Therefore, there are likely to be outgoings as well as incomings during the January transfer window, will this crowd-pleaser be walking out of the exit door?
Sky Sports reports that Elano is not best pleased with his current role as substitute, with the Brazilian not making it onto the pitch during City’s 2-1 defeat against Spurs. Last season, the playmaker was outstanding for the Eastlands outfit, especially in the first half of the season, although it’s clear that Hughes doesn’t rate him as highly as Eriksson.
“When I am playing I know what he wants and when I come off there is nothing from him,” Elano told Sky Sports News on his relationship with the Welsh coach.
“It’s his right, he is the manager. I respect him and I will keep working, arriving on time and doing my duties at the club, but my sadness is not playing.
“I can’t hide that from the fans or the president – who wants to make this a big club. I think I have the capabilities to be playing.”
This is precisely the sort of thing that Mark Hughes doesn’t want; a player who moans in public when he’s not being picked, rather than someone in the squad who is quietly going about trying to get noticed by his manager. Does Elano have a future at Manchester City, or has his star faded since last season, especially with the arrival of SWP and Robinho?
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