Hughes evades Fergy’s mind games

Mark Hughes has taken mild exception to Sir Alex Ferguson’s suggestion that Manchester City will pose little threat to Manchester United in the Premier League this season.

City have been on a spending spree during the transfer window, purchasing the services of Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez. With Brazilian striker, Robinho, already in the mix Manchester City will field a potent strike force in the coming season.

“I have huge respect for him but that does not mean I have to agree with what he says,” Hughes told reporters in response to Ferguson’s provocations. He then played down the Manchester United’s boss’s comments by adding: “I don’t think this is a mind game.”

City are currently on a tour of South Africa. The club lost to local heroes Orlando Pirates on the weekend before scuttling Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday evening. The latter match saw Gareth Barry make his much anticipated debut for the club.

“I was delighted to get out,” Barry said after the match. “The main aim was to have the fitness for 60 minutes. I have only been training for a week with City. There are new faces and the training is different, but I am getting used to it.”