Hughes: Garry doesn’t have a Monk on with me

Ian Watson
Mark Hughes: Could start Bojan

Mark Hughes: Has no problem with Garry Monk

Stoke boss Mark Hughes insists there is no problem between him and Swansea counterpart Garry Monk despite their heated exchange last season.

The Potters’ 2-1 victory a year ago saw Victor Moses, on loan from Chelsea at the time, win a penalty in an incident that left Monk claiming the winger had made “one of the most blatant dives you will ever see”.

In a considerable post-match tirade, the Swansea manager also said ”he’s (Moses) cheated the referee (Michael Oliver) and then the ref’s cheated us in terms of giving a decision that never was.”

Hughes hit back at the time by branding the accusations as “unacceptable”, and later suggested the Football Association had set a dangerous precedent after it asked Monk to explain his comments but did not charge him.

However, ahead of Stoke’s trip to Swansea on Monday, Hughes said on the matter: “I don’t think it was between the two of us. There wasn’t an issue, anyway.

“There was a disagreement possibly on the penalty decision, although I think Garry was more aggrieved with the referee than he was with me. It was what it was.”

The two clubs have met again since that fixture, with Swansea defeating Stoke 2-0 in Wales in May.

And on that encounter with Monk, Hughes added: “There was not a problem – we met after the game, had a drink and came home. I don’t recall there was any ill-feeling after that game.”

Swansea ended last season eighth in the Barclays Premier League in what was their former defender and captain Monk’s first full term in charge, and he has overseen a solid enough start to the current campaign, with his side lying 11th.

Hughes, whose side are 14th, has great admiration for the job his former Southampton team-mate has done in his maiden managerial role.

“He has done fantastically,” Hughes said.

“He is at a good club with stability, not unlike myself here, and I think that is really important, certainly when you are the manager – it is reassuring that you have that stability in terms of the leadership and ownership of the club.

“I think that enables you to just get on with your job and do what you are employed to do.

“But he has taken to the role really very quickly.

“I think his standing at the club has probably helped – he has been there a long time and been the captain. He was obviously well thought of before he was given the opportunity.

“But there is a big difference between being a senior player and then having to tell fellow senior players what to do when you take on the role of a manager.

“He seems to have made that transition very comfortably, so that’s credit to him.”