Manchester City manager Mark Hughes can expect another tough Vodacom Challenge clash at Durban’s Absa Stadium on Tuesday night when his star-studded side faces Kaizer Chiefs.

Hughes was speaking after his leg-weary troops were well beaten 2-0 by a lively Orlando Pirates in the opening Challenge match at a packed Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.

Bucs’ win added to the celebrations of Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday and the tenth anniversary of the Challenge.

“I expect more of the same from Chiefs. But this is how it should be,” Hughes said.

“It was a good exercise for us playing a team like Pirates; it was tough and what I expected.

“This is the reason I was keen to come on this tour as we need this type of competition to help prepare in our pre-season.

“That is why we are here, to be pushed hard. My priority is to make sure that we are ready and fighting fit when the (English) Premiership season kicks off. This in an important part of that build-up.”

Hughes admitted that Pirates were quicker to the ball than his players, who have just returned to full training after their summer break.

“The difference was in the conditioning and Pirates were in a better physical condition,” said the manager nicknamed Sparky during his playing days as a top rated striker with Manchester United and Wales.

“But this was an important 90 minutes of good hard football to get under our belts and I am looking forward to another hard test when we play Chiefs.”

City striker Craig Bellamy admitted that City were surprised by the pace of Pirates who ran them into the ground at times.

“Pirates were good, quick and gave us a good work out, and as the manager said it was just what we needed,” said the Welsh skipper.

“We have not been together since the end of the season and it showed. But it was a very good exercise for us.”

Bellamy stressed his decision to join City and rejoin Hughes, for whom he played at Blackburn Rovers and Wales, was the right decision.

He said he was keen to end his star-studded career on a high note with the big spending City who are set to possibly add Chelsea captain John Terry to their pres-season signings.

“The manager (Hughes) told me his plans in January to rebuild City into a powerful side and he has been as good as his word,” said Bellamy, who turned 33 earlier this week.

“It is good seeing the new faces and I know how tough it will be to fight for places, especially with the new strikers at the club. I reckon this will be a good way to end my career.”

Hughes said he might change a few players – such as his two new signings, striker Carlos Tevez and England midfielder Gareth Barry – against Amakhosi, but he was not considering using his other new striker, Roque Santa Cruz, just yet.

None of the three new signings featured against the fired up Buccaneers.

“Santa Cruz had an operation recently and is not 100 per cent ready to play,” Hughes said.

“I do not want to risk him unless I am sure he is fit. I want him to be ready when the season starts.

“Barry and Tevez have just joined us and they need more time to adjust and basically that is why I left them out against Pirates.”

 Kick-off is at 8.15pm.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

Tags: kaizer chiefs, manchester city, mark hughes