Mark Hughes: Stoke City manager says he has to prove critics wrong

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has admitted he has to win over those who question his managerial abilities.

Former Wales, Blackburn, Manchester City and Fulham boss Hughes, 49, was sacked as QPR manager last November after a poor start to the campaign.

Stoke decided to appoint Hughes after the departure of Tony Pulis in May.

"Every manager, when they come into a new environment and a new club, will have doubters. It is up to you to win people over," Hughes said.

The Welshman began his managerial career in charge of his country in 1999 before departing to take over at Blackburn Rovers in 2004, when they were in the Premier League.

The former Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Everton, Blackburn, Southampton and Wales striker led Blackburn to a sixth-placed Premier League finish in 2005-06 and subsequently into Europe.

Hughes departed in the summer of 2008 for Manchester City, but was sacked in December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini.

Fulham appointed the Welshman in 2010, but he resigned within a year after leading the Cottagers to a top-eight Premier League finish.

Hughes was then appointed as boss at Loftus Road in January 2012 and the London club narrowly avoided relegation that season, staying up despite a final-game defeat by City who won the Premier League on the same day.

Despite a summer of heavy spending, QPR sacked Hughes after they managed only four points from their opening 12 games.

Hughes has now put that bad experience behind him as he looks to Stoke's Premier League opener against Liverpool on Saturday.

"In recent times my previous work has been overlooked as a consequence of having an exceptionally poor start to last season," he said.

"Hopefully we can redress the balance somewhat because it was a bit skewed in a negative way, people's perceptions of my ability as a manager.

"You will always have people that, for whatever reason, don't like the way you look or don't like the colour of your hair.

"There is not a lot you can do about that, it happens.

"I would like to think once they understand what I am trying to do here and the type of football we want to produce, we can turn a few round."

Hughes has brought in defenders Erik Pieters and Marc Muniesa this summer from PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona respectively, but admits frustration at not being able to add more targets.

"That hasn't been possible for whatever reason but we will get there," he added.