Stoke boss keen to move on from City spell.
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Stoke City manager Mark Hughes says he doesn’t hold any grudges against his former club Manchester City as the two sides prepare to meet in the Premier League next week, Sky Sports reports.
The Welshman was in charge for a year and a half at the Etihad Stadium between 2008 and 2009, before being replaced by Roberto Mancini, who went on to steer the club to better success.
However, Hughes believes he did a good job during his time at the club, and put his difficulties down to the recent changes in ownership at the time, with the Abu Dhabi group bringing in a host of new big-name signings into the team in a short space of time.
Hughes, who played for City’s rivals Manchester United as a player, has since gone on to manage Fulham and Queens Park Rangers without a great deal of success, before taking over at Stoke from Tony Pulis this summer.
However, he was keen to play down the personal side of the upcoming clash between his Stoke team and City, saying he doesn’t hold any resentment towards his former employers.
“The longer time has gone on, I think they look back and realise I did a decent job,” he said.
“There was a change of ownership, which wasn’t easy. Also, the circumstances when I went were different to what they were portrayed to me.
“I don’t hold any resentment about that. The fact was I drew too many games and gave them the opportunity to go in a different direction.”
Stoke have started well this season, winning two of their first three Premier League games, and Hughes believes it will be a good test for his side to be playing one of the title contenders.
“It’s a big test, but we are playing well and are encouraged by what we have seen,” he added. “You know at some point you are going to be facing one of the top teams in Europe.
“It will also be a good test of where we feel we are and where we can get to.”