Manchester City boss
Mark Hughes intends to make only
minimal adjustments to his squad when the transfer window reopens
in January.
After attending a City board meeting in Abu Dhabi this week,
Hughes emphasised that the days of wholesale changes were over.
He said: "What people must understand is that our business in
the last window was unprecedented. That will not happen again.
"This notion that we will throw money at whatever player, that
is not the case.
"We do not feel we need to go into the market to the extent we
did in the last two windows.
"It about looking at players for areas of the team that still
need strengthening. Those are the ones we will target. It will not
be wholesale comings and goings, I can assure you of that."
Hughes believes they are making good progress.
He said: "Positive messages came out of the board meeting. We
are very pleased with the way things are going from a football
point of view and a business point of view.
"We are in good shape. It is about making sure we continue in
the same vein."
Hughes scoffed at the perceived difficulty of team spirit with
such a quickly assembled squad, saying: "People were suggesting the
gelling of the team might be a difficulty for us but it is plainly
obvious we have addressed that.
"The team has come together very quickly - they are good
players. It is easier for good players to have an understanding of
what is required.
"We are very comfortable with how the season has started. It is
only a positive start, that's all. It is a platform for us to go
forward."
City have already taken seven points on the road this season
after amassing only 11 in the whole of last campaign.
Hughes said: "We have more players with Premier League experience, who have an
understanding of what is needed to win games at this level.
"We look more solid. Sometimes you have to dig in more when you
are away in the Premier League
and we have been able to do that. We are pleased at how things are
going in that respect. It is a marked improvement."