Hughes comes out fighting
MARK HUGHES does not fear the sack if Southampton lose at home to his old club Manchester United tomorrow.
The Saints board’s patience in Hughes is wearing thin after a dismal run of three wins from 21 Premier League games in charge. But United legend Hughes, who saved the south coast club from relegation last season, came out fighting yesterday, insisting: “I don’t need assurances from the board.
“They understand what I’m doing here, what we did last year, how I work and how my staff work.
“We are doing the best we can, we are preparing the team exceptionally well and every game we have been competitive in.
“There are very few games where we have not been able to affect the opposition. They see that and see how we work on a daily basis. “We’re not naive. At some point we need to get maximum points on the board but we are not very far away. We all feel that – the ownership, the football management, myself and the players.
Speculation
“I’m not the only manager in charge of a football club that is down at the bottom and underachieving at the moment but I am getting the brunt of the speculation.
“That’s what happens. I have been in the game a long time and it doesn’t faze me. Actually it makes me want to excel even more. “That’s the message I give to the players – in this moment it’s about not allowing people the opportunity to question you as a player and an individual.
“If anything, we’ve been guilty of allowing people that opportunity.” Ex-Swansea boss Paulo Sousa watched Saints’ 3-2 defeat at Fulham on Saturday, fuelling claims the Portuguese is being lined up to replace Hughes. Hughes said: “It’s water off a duck’s back. I know how this game works. “If people surmise a manager is under pressure almost every sports agent in the country will put forward clients, try to get in contact with the powers that be and say, ‘This is the right guy if you are thinking of making a change’. “That’s what happens. I understand that. It’s not a problem. It’s people doing their business. “It’s when that is a little bit too obvious and people try and set the agenda for themselves and the benefit of themselves that I rail against it.”