MARK HUGHES' FIRST INTERVIEW AS UNITED HEAD COACH ...

We spoke to Mark Hughes for the first time, after he was appointed the new head coach at Carlisle United.

Mark began by saying:

“It’s great to be here. Contact was made a couple of days ago and then yesterday it accelerated and next thing, up the motorway I came and onto the training pitch. This morning was great. 

“I’d just had a game of padel actually when I got the call, so I got back home and took a few calls and then, like I said, got myself up here late last night, ready for the morning.”

We asked Mark what made this challenge the right move in his career, he responded:

“Well, that's the operative word really, the challenge of it.

“Obviously, it's not a great situation to come into, but more often than not when there's a change of management then usually it means that the club feel they need to make a change because things aren't quite where they need to be. That's certainly the case here. We're rock bottom at the moment, but that's not where I anticipate we'll finish.

“It's my job to instil a little bit more confidence in the group. I suspect that is a big factor at the moment, but that can turn very, very quickly with a couple of positive results, so the sooner we get those then the better for the whole group.”

Mark arrives with a wealth of experience, we asked him how his experiences would help him in this role. He responded:

“Yeah, they're different experiences, but most of the successful teams I've been involved with, they always do the fundamentals really well and they apply right across the board.

“It doesn't matter what level you work at, the fundamentals are always there and it's about defending well, attacking well, making sure everybody has a real understanding of what's required within the game. When this momentum changes, all those things that you have to recognise as a player on the pitch and address them as you can.

“It's not easy sometimes when you're on the pitch. Things are flying around and you've got to have a little bit of clarity of mind and understand what's going on and what's required.

“So with my knowledge and Glyn Hodges' knowledge as well, we've seen a lot of things and hopefully when opposition teams are giving us a little bit of problem we'll be able to pre-empt that, recognise situations developing and use our experience to help the team to overcome those momentum shifts in game.”

It’s been just over a year since Mark left Bradford, we asked if it had been a case of waiting for the right job. He said:

“Yeah, I've had offers in the last 12 months, some I've dismissed out of hand, others weren't quite right for me. I just had a feeling about this opportunity and the challenge that it's going to bring.

“I've been in relegation battles with QPR, Southampton and Stoke on occasions and I was able to bring us to the right side of where we wanted to be by the end of the season.

“So the challenge is to do it here. Having seen the squad and the group this morning, I was really encouraged by their technical ability. Once we get playing the games then I'll have an even better understanding of what frailties there are in the group and we'll address them and make our way up the league."

Mark then spoke about his conversations with the club hierarchy:

“Yeah, there's a new ownership group here and they're very ambitious.

“They're desperate for the club to do well. A lot of things I've been told have happened in the stadium in terms of the investment in the ground itself and obviously the playing squad as well. We've just got to get the stuff right on the pitch and that's the important thing.

“That drives everything. If we can do our jobs well, myself and the players, then we'll be in a good place to develop the club and move the club forward because that's what the ownership wants.”

We asked Mark if there was a style of play in mind, from the owners, or if it was just about getting points. He explained:

“No, we're in a situation where we need to find a way to win and that's the remit basically.

“It's a difficult league but I'm comforted from the fact that I've not come into it cold. I know the league, and the level is difficult. It probably surprises people when they first drop down but I've had that experience.

“I understand that and that'll hold me in good stead.”

We then asked Mark what kind of football his teams play. He replied:

“I've always wanted to play football, good football. Get it down and pass and move.

“All those things that you would imagine I'd want to do, but I'm a realist as well and I understand that on occasion sometimes you've got to do the ugly stuff and clear your lines.

“There's no criticism of anybody who's been here before. There's probably two schools of thought in terms of being direct and being more possession-based and I’m probably in the middle.

“The best of both worlds is my opinion that will give you the best chance of winning games at this level.”

Mark took his first training session in the morning, he spoke about that:

“I was pleased. Pleasantly surprised. There's a good level of technical ability as I've mentioned and that's reassuring. We probably need a little bit more work and time on organisational stuff because even just in the practice that we did today I saw certain elements of the play that probably have compromised us on occasion.

“So if we can nail those down and highlight them to the players and make them aware of those moments when mistakes can happen then if we can iron those out of our play then the good footballers that we are that will come to the fore I'm sure.”

Mark arrived with his assistant, Glyn Hodges. He spoke about him:

“I've known Glyn a long, long time.

“We played together in the Welsh school boys many moons ago so that tells you how long we've known each other. He's a good friend and that's an advantage, but he gets the role that he does alongside me because he's excellent at what he does, the best in my view.

“So bringing Glyn here will help the group as well and with our experience and our knowledge of the game we're here to do a job and we'll be judged on that, but we're more than happy to get our hands dirty and do whatever it takes because this club is just waiting to go in the right direction and we've just got to make sure that we turn the ship around a little bit.”

“Glyn has a great manner. It can be a little bit abrupt at times which is not a bad thing when players need to be told and we both will, in no uncertain terms, tell players what is needed to be heard. I think we won't lack clarity in terms of the messaging that we'll give them.

“They'll be very clear in terms of what I expect of them and what I demand of them on a day-to-day basis and I've just got to find the right mix. We've got to make sure that we have the right personnel, the right structure, the right tactics and the right shape to win games at this level so that's the challenge.”

Mark will also work alongside the existing coaching staff. He discussed those relationships:

“There's a little bit of continuity in that. We did that when I was at Bradford and it worked really well so I think that element certainly initially will be very helpful because obviously I need to know about the group very, very quickly and the staff that I've inherited will help in that regard. 

“There's nothing that is missing in terms of how I want to do the job so that's good, that's reassuring. We're looking forward to what's ahead of us. It won't be a smooth ride.

“I'm sure there'll be bumps in the road but we've just got to get to the end of the season and make sure that we're in this league.”

On the trip to Grimsby, Mark said:

“Yeah, we'll look at it. We'll have our own ideas on maybe how we want to go, but we haven't got that much time and that many games to turn it around so we can't waste any game that we have ahead of us. So it may be that we do a few changes."

Mark then spoke on the fans, who he’s had experience with, particularly in his trip to Brunton Park in the play-offs with Bradford:

“There were great crowds in both of those games. It didn't go my way that day but as long as everyone is behind what we're trying to do and I'm sure there will be, there's got to be that help from our fans.

“They come in their numbers and we want them to get behind us but the reality is that you have to give your fans something to cheer and that's what we'll endeavour to do.”

And finally, addressing the supporters directly, he said:

“Well, strap yourself in I would say. It's going to be a journey that we'll all be on together and the intention is to make sure we're in a good place at the end of the season and I'm sure given the attitude I've seen in the players just in the first session today, that attitude will stand us in good stead.

“We'll work with the players, try and make them better, make their decision making better which is a key thing from my point of view and I'm sure we'll do what we have to do.”