By ESPNsoccernet staff
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November 20, 2010
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Mark Hughes claims he would have advanced
Manchester City much more than Roberto Mancini has been able to, had the club not
sacked him last season.
GettyImages
Mark Hughes: Was sacked by City last season
Former Inter Milan coach Mancini has spent £135 million on new
signings since arriving at Eastland's last term, but has come under
fire after a series of negative performances.
And despite the massive investment, Mancini's Premier League
title-chasers have accrued the same point's total that Hughes
acquired after 13 games last season and with an inferior goal
difference.
Hughes, now manager at Fulham, said: "They [City] made the
change with the view that they wanted to accelerate the process of
getting success. That doesn't seem to have happened.
"I know what I left behind, that the club and the group of
players I had there was good enough to hit the targets I was given.
I knew they had to spend significantly more money [last] summer -
that opportunity was going to be given to myself. It wasn't. If I
had still been there I would have been there two and a half years
so that I think would have helped."
Mancini has strongly defended his record, claiming City are far
stronger under his management.
"We have improved a lot," Mancini said. "We have won a lot of
away games. We are in fourth position, two points behind
[Manchester] United. We must check again at the end of the season
but I think we will get into the Champions League and probably win
something."