Good times ahead for City, insists Hughes

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes promised good times ahead at Eastlands and scoffed at suggestions he would not be there next season despite seeing his team lose 2-1 against Tottenham.

Defeat consigns City to a mid-table Premier League finish, a position which belies their status as the world’s richest club, but Hughes assured fans that he would be bringing top quality players to the club this summer.

“It will be an exciting place next season,” the Welshman claimed. “We are looking to bring quality in at the top end.

“It is difficult to put a figure on how many players but we are looking to be positive in the market.”

City were outclassed during the first-half at White Hart Lane, and could have been more than Jermain Defoe’s neat goal behind at the interval.

The second period saw a dramatic shift in power as City put Spurs under the cosh and were rewarded when Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov came off the bench to fire in a superb equaliser.

The plucky visitors were finally undone five minutes from time when Robbie Keane converted from the penalty spot after Micah Richards was controversially adjudged to have fouled Frazier Campbell.

Speculation has been rife that Hughes’s City days are numbered following the club’s takeover by a super-rich Arab consortium last September.

However, the former Manchester United player rubbished these suggestions, reiterating his belief that he is the man for the job.

“Myself and the owners have been totally frustrated by the speculation from day one, but Mark Hughes will be the manager of Manchester City next year,” he blasted.

“There’s been way too much speculation about the players and about me and it has made my job even more difficult than it already is.

“This season we have undergone huge changes and at times it’s been difficult.

“But now we are stronger as a club and we will hit ground running next season. Everyone knows what is expected of them now.”

Opposite number Harry Redknapp was in much more jovial mood as his team approach the last game of the season having a slim chance of securing a seventh place finish which would be enough to qualify for the Europa League.

Even if this does not transpire, the Spurs boss can be proud of his achievements after transforming the club’s fortunes since his arrival in October when they were rooted to the foot of the table.

The former West Ham man played down his team’s chances of European qualification.

“I don’t really think it’s likely. We have to go to Liverpool and win and Fulham have to lose against Everton, who will be playing in the cup final the following week. If we finish eighth that’s a fantastic achievement,” he said.

In only conceding one goal, Spurs broke their record for least number of league goals conceded in a season.

The former Portsmouth boss believes Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko will be a Spurs player next season, and laughed off his petulant reaction to being substituted.

“He was quick when he went down the tunnel, he flew past me, it was good to see,” Redknapp joked about the Russian, who has drawn criticism for his lack of energy.

“He’s convinced he’s staying and I’m happy with him, he’s got a lot to offer.”