Hughes defiant despite Stoke fans’ discontent
MARK Hughes says he is the best person to lead Stoke away from the relegation zone despite fans calling for his head after a 1-0 loss to Newcastle on Monday night.
The 54-year-old former Wales and Manchester United striker – who numbers Manchester City among clubs he has managed – has seen his side slide to fifth from bottom with just one win in their last seven league matches.
Monday’s reverse allowed Newcastle to leapfrog Stoke in the table and left the Potters just two points above the relegation places after one win in their last six games, with third from bottom West Ham still having a game in hand on them after last night’s clash with West Brom.
“Who else is going to do it? ” Hughes asked the BBC about the Stoke manager’s job. “In terms of the knowledge of the group and the progress in my t i me here, I’m t he best person to do it.”
Hug hes, who ha s seen Prem ier League rivals such as Tony Pulis, Ronald Koeman and Paul Clement sacked a lready this season because of poor runs, insisted he made t he right ca ll in play ing a second-string side in t he 5-0 hammering by Chelsea on Saturday to save his f irst choice team for Monday’s clash.
“Everyone’s saying that I gambled but I used the players that I had, what was I going to do?” said Hughes, who has been in charge of Stoke since 2013. “Risk players that had a big part to play today? Plenty of teams have made changes today, everyone else is doing it too.”
At t hei r home bet 365 St ad iu m, Stoke’s latest lack lust re display pi led pressure on Hughes, whose decision to f ield a wea kened tea m i n Sat urd a y ’s 5 - 0 t h r a s h i ng a t C he l s e a appeared to back f ire.
Newcastle took a deserved lead in the 73rd minute when Ayoze Perez stabbed past Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland from close range.
That triggered chants for Hughes’s dismissal from Stoke fans, with a “Hughes out” banner held aloft in the stands.