Alex McLeish: Mark Hughes must win something before taunting Sir Alex Ferguson
Published 23:00 30/10/09 By By James Nursey
Alex McLeish has warned Mark Hughes that winding up Sir Alex Ferguson will backfire unless the Manchester City boss delivers a trophy.
Birmingham chief McLeish, 50, is preparing for City's visit tomorrow in the Premier League.
McLeish, known as Big 'Eck, remains very close to Ferguson after working under the Manchester United manager during their time at Aberdeen.
He has watched with amusement this summer's sparring match between rival Manchester managers Hughes and Ferguson.
And McLeish believes City are still a long way off trumping United despite signing Carlos Tevez and gloating over his arrival with a cheeky poster.
"They like to wind each other up and it has been quite entertaining," said McLeish, who played for Aberdeen from 1978-1994.
"Man City have had a dig at United with the Tevez poster and Sir Alex responded.
"Maybe one day Man City will usurp United.
“But United have obviously got a pedigree of being champions and know how it feels.
“City are trying to get close to that kind of feeling United and their players have.
“The proof of the pudding will be when Mark’s team can win something.”
Man City have spent big this summer on the likes of Gareth Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Roque Santa Cruz and Joleon Lescott.
And McLeish added: “I know there is jealousy out there towards them as a club.
“The little guy wants to see the big guy fall and Mark Hughes will be aware of all that kind of talk.
"Knowing Mark and the character he is, he will try and use that as a weapon to try and beat people up with."
Man City duo Adebayor and Craig Bellamy have both had run-ins with rival supporters this term.
And McLeish hopes Birmingham fans, buoyed by Carson Yeung’s recent takeover, will wind up the volatile pair tomorrow.
He said: "The Birmingham fans unleashed hell a few years ago and made St Andrews a tough place to go.
"They were hostile and I am looking for a return to that.
"The goading of opposition players is part of the game.
"Some individuals have to show their emotions like Adebayor and Bellamy."
