what the papers say

Hughes cool ahead of vital game

Festive
greetings to you from all at WTPS Towers! As you contemplate the turkey
sandwiches and more mince pies, tuck into our Boxing Day offering: the
Boss is keeping a cool head while Spanish midfielder Marcos Senna is
talking up his desire to play in England.

The Mirror

"Mark Hughes says Manchester City are not involved in a relegation battle"

Mark
Hughes has described as "hysterical" the reaction to Manchester City's
current plight and claimed they are not in a relegation battle -
despite being third from bottom in the Premier League.

City have
taken just five points from a possible 27 and are currently languishing
in 18th place on 18 points - the same total at this stage of the season
when they were relegated from the top flight in 2001.

Despite
such a poor run, under-fire Hughes insisted City are not fighting for
survival and claimed he has no fear of losing his job because he has
the backing of the club's billionaire Arab owner Sheikh Mansour.

Asked
if City were now in a relegation fight, Hughes said: "No, we don't
accept that at all. We're in a situation that can be turned around very
quickly and we certainly expect to do that.

"With the table as tight as it is this season, back-toback wins can move you up into the top-half of the table very quickly.

"The
owners understand the situation here, despite how hysterical people
seem to be at the moment." And Hull boss Phil Brown knows today will be
a real challenge.

"Given the situation, I think Mark Hughes will be calling for a dogs-of-war attitude," he said.

"It's going to be more of a battle than a proper game of football."

Chester Chronicle

"Senna 'interested' in City"

European Championship winner Marcos Senna has revealed he would be "interested" in a January move to Manchester City.

The
Spain midfielder, who is under contract at Villarreal until 2010, is
believed to be one of the players on City manager Mark Hughes' wishlist
as City owners Abu Dhabi United Group prepare to bankroll a spending
spree next month.

"I
have heard about the big project at City and I'm flattered by their
interest," Senna was reported saying in the Daily Mail. "The Premier
League is a big league and I am interested in the challenge."

He
added: "It is complicated leaving Villarreal because I am excited by
the season and we are still involved in the league and the Champions
League.

"It would take an enormous proposition by City for me to leave but it is not impossible."

Villarreal
sporting director Jose Luis Llanez appeared to open the door for a bid
when he added: "We have received no formal offers but in football
nothing is impossible.

"If we get a big offer we would consider it."