Stoke City manager Mark Hughes admits that he is pleased by the rumours linking him with the managerial job at Manchester United, but he outrightly rejected the speculations and confirmed that he has no intention of leaving the Britannia stadium. Hughes has previously spent almost 13 years of his playing career at Old Trafford.
Ever since their 2-0 win against United on boxing day, the Welshman has been rumoured to be one of the possible replacements for Van Gaal and received backing from his former United teammates Robbie Savage and Paul Parker as well. However, the 52-year-old has denied the approach but was not hesitant to welcome the praise for his good work.
Trending
"There's a lot of speculation. That goes with the territory," he told a news conference. “It's probably better to be talked up than talked down.”
“I've had both, and I know which I prefer. It is what it is. It's speculation. Nothing more, nothing less," he added.
Hughes believes that his side is far from complacent
Stoke have enjoyed a brilliant season under Hughes so far and have displayed a good attacking brand of football without giving up on their defensive stability. The signings made by the manager seems to have paid off and Stoke are currently tenth in the table, just six points away from fourth-placed Tottenham. The Potters have managed to finish 9th in their last two seasons and will be hoping for another top-half finish this season.
However, Hughes insists that there is no room for complacency in his side and that they don’t seem like a side who takes things for granted anymore. "It's something you have to guard against, but it's less of a worry for this group, to be perfectly honest," he said. “I think everybody senses that they're really enjoying what they're doing at the moment. They're enjoying being part of it. They want more."
Stoke City next play Liverpool in the Capital One Cup semis hoping to book a date for Wembley and a chance to lift their first major silverware in 44 years.
