Hughes: our game is bigger

Manchester City coach Mark Hughes believes that the interest in the game against Chelsea at the weekend is even more than the interest in Liverpool against Manchester United. Man City will be fielding Robinho for the first time.

"There is huge interest in us at the moment and, though there is another quite large game going on nearby on Saturday, we have superseded that one," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"I am sure that has happened on many occasions.

"At the end of the day our profile is huge at the moment and there is such a story surrounding the Chelsea game with different angles relating to each club. We are really looking forward to it.

"I can't stop saying it, but it is really exciting for everybody and it is one of the reasons that I came here. I want that interest and anticipation on a weekly basis.

"There will be those people who get ahead of themselves, but what we are trying to do here is build something quietly and at the moment we haven't managed to do the quiet part!

“What myself, my staff and everyone who works at City is trying to do is build something sustainable and something that will last for a long, long time.

“That doesn't happen overnight. We have to make sure that the structures and procedures are in place to ensure that everything we do is geared to long-term success.

“We are very early in that process at the moment but are working hard towards it.

“We have huge efforts to make on all fronts this season and in four competitions and that is what we are aiming to do.”