DON’T SULK
Under-fire Sparky blasts ‘negativity’ of Stoke critics
ANGRY Mark Hughes has taken a swipe at Stoke’s critics and warned Arsenal they face a hot reception today.
Marko Arnautovic claimed West Ham “are a bigger club and more ambitious” club in a stinging parting shot at the Potters when he left for £25million.
Radio pundit Robbie Savage – a friend of boss Hughes – claimed his former gaffer should quit City over a lack of ambition in the transfer market.
Yet Hughes has brought in six players, among them former Real Madrid star Jese Rodriguez from Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on season-long loans.
And he feels the criticism is unwarranted. “There’s been too much negativity about what we’re going to do this year,” said Hughes, 53.
“People are taking maybe a few cheap shots and it all builds up. When that happens, we circle the wagons and show people what we’re about.
“We’re at that point. Arsenal coming to town maybe helps that.
“You don’t need too much motivating here, certainly to have a go at Arsenal.”
Stoke are set for their biggest home crowd for 29 years and a record for the bet365 stadium after the capacity was extended to just over 30,000.
“When our fans get behind the team, there’s no more intimidating place,” warned Hughes.
On Arnautovic, the Welshman added: “That was probably a means to an end for Marko and his advisers.
“It’s quite easy to say that when you’re not in possession of the facts, which players never are.” And he played down the criticism by Savage, his former midfielder at Blackburn and Wales: “Robbie has no idea what’s going on here.”
Stoke can boast five of the Premier League’s 13 Champions League winners in Darren Fletcher, Ibrahim Afellay, Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan and Jese. And Hughes believes the perception of the club has changed in recent years. “People come to the conclusion the Stoke DNA is about long balls and fighting for challenges,” he said. “But if you look further back, Stoke’s DNA was Sir Stanley Matthews and flair players such as Alan Hudson. We’re trying to get back to that.”