By Chris Wheeler reports from DurbanMark Hughes held back his big guns during a friendly in South Africa on Tuesday night then held his fire when given the opportunity to ignite a public slanging match with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson said Manchester City are unlikely to make the top four this season and Carlos Tevez is not worth the £25million City paid for him.
But, after weakened City's 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs, Hughes said: 'Sir Alex is a person I have huge respect for, but I don't always have to agree with him. Everyone has their own opinion and that was obviously Sir Alex's. I'm sure many people will disagree with him.'
Hughes was equally diplomatic over the issue of Tevez, adding: 'Other people's valuations will be different to ours. We look at the worth they will give to Manchester City not other clubs.'
In game two of City's pre-season tour though, there was again no sign of the big-game strikers Hughes has acquired with the millions handed to him by the club's Arab owners. Nor was there an indication of how he will keep those players happy this season.
No Tevez, apparently rested as a precaution because of an ankle knock, and no Emmanuel Adebayor.
With Roque Santa Cruz sidelined after surgery on his knee injury, and Robinho not due to join his teammates until Friday, tournament sponsors Vodacom could be forgiven for feeling a little short-changed.
'Manchester City's galaxy of stars will add to the considerable list of world-class talent that has already paraded at the Vodacom Challenge over the last 10 years,' proclaimed the official tournament brochure.
In fairness to City, five of Tuesday night's starting line-up could expect to play on the opening day of the season, including Stephen Ireland, who scored the only goal of the game, and at least Gareth Barry made his debut.
Barry, who was booked, said: 'I've signed a five-year contract and I believe in that time I will be playing Champions League football. I was delighted to get a run-out. The main thing was the fitness and to get 60 minutes and come out of it feeling good.'
But it was the appearance of Felipe Caicedo and Kelvin Etuhu in place of any of the strikers Hughes has paid more than £110million to sign over the last 12 months that will have left fans most disappointed.
It was a bit like a tourist who heads for South Africa's game parks in search of lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos and rhinos but instead has to make do with a deer.
That will be of little concern to Hughes, who maintains that his job is to get the team ready for August 15, when City go to Blackburn on the opening day of the season. He could also point out that United had more than a few fringe players on show when they won this tournament last summer.
Victory can be a powerful argument, and a 1-0 win over the Chiefs at least fended off stronger criticism of the City manager's team selection following Saturday's defeat by Orlando Pirates in Polokwane.
But Ferguson was in charge of a settled side that had just secured a Champions League and Barclays Premier League double, while Hughes has a lot of work to do, integrating his new players after another busy summer in the transfer market and not much time to do it.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1201286/Kaizer-Chiefs-0-Manchester-City-1-Hughes-calm-Fergie-taunts.html#ixzz0Ly3HLFNX
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