Stephen Ireland believes Manchester City fans have not seen the best of him this season, and attributes that fact to former manager Mark Hughes. Many pundits have felt Ireland’s form has dipped dramatically this season, even though Manchester City are pushing for a top-four spot.
Ireland has a pretty simple explanation. Under Hughes this season he was never picked in his preferred advanced midfield position.
The arrival of Carlos Tevez has filled the space Ireland used to run into, so the Cork-born player was ushered onto both wings, and even deployed as a holding midfielder in competition with Nigel de Jong.
“The last six months under Mark Hughes was very frustrating for me,” he said. “I was being played out of position. Maybe as a holding midfielder, left wing, right wing. It is not me.
“You have to adjust and think ‘I have to do it’ but if you want the best out of me you have to play me in my best position. Then I can be myself because the chains are off.”
It could be argued few sides can carry such players in the Premier League and the presence of now-departed Robinho, whose attitude to tracking back was relaxed at best, made a tricky situation worse.
But Ireland’s previous displays are believed to have caught the eye of Alex Ferguson given the number of times a potential move to Old Trafford for the 23-year-old has been mentioned.
For now though, the midfielder remains loyal to City.
“I have really worked hard over the last two years to build up my relationship with the fans,” he said. “Even when I was doing a signing session a few months ago I ended up staying for over three hours.
“It comes naturally to me. Even though I came over from Ireland, the fans still regard me as one of them. I am very grateful for that.”