BBC:

Manchester City’s new manager Mark Hughes has targeted making the club a major force in the Premier League and across Europe.

Hughes was unveiled as City boss on Thursday after leaving Blackburn to become Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor.

“The ambition of the club is to challenge at the top table - not only in this country but in Europe,” said ex-Manchester United striker Hughes.

“If we get the right players in right positions it is more than realistic.”

Hughes said he left Blackburn to help achieve his ambitions of being at a club capable of challenging in the higher echelons and denied City were a route to a more higher profile job for him.

“If I’m successful here I don’t need any stepping stones,” said the 44-year-old.

He is expected to bring some of his backroom team with him from Ewood Park and has every confidence they can turn City into a force in England and Europe.

“I had a fantastic time at Blackburn,” said Hughes. “It was difficult on occasions with the amount of finance available.

“There was a limit to how far I could take club and it’s a case now that I’m at club that can match my ambitions.”

Hughes had been linked with taking over as Chelsea boss but insists that was never an option after talks began with City.

“Once Manchester City made their intentions known I was very focused on getting the opportunity to come to the club,” he explained.

“From the time their intention was shown, I had the opportunity to speak to Garry (Cook, executive chairman) and members of the board.

“And it’s been very quick and very clear to me that there is a huge project here that I want to be part of, so it was an easy decision (to leave Blackburn).”

Hughes has briefly spoken to club owner Thaksin Shinawatra and added: “He wished me well. I had a brief conversation with him and he’s very excited by his ambition for the club.”

It was feared there would be an exodus of players from City following the exit of Eriksson and that is a situation Hughes said he would be addressing.

The former Wales boss backed his own ability and warned his new players that he would be expecting them to show the necessary passion and drive to be a part of his plans.

“I’ll back my ability against most managers in the Premier League and I think my management team is one of the best in the Premier League, and I think we can make an impact here,” he said.

“If I didn’t think that I wouldn’t have come here.

“I’m very demanding (with players) on a day-to-day basis and I expect a certain level to be attained.

“I’m consistent with players, they know exactly how far they can go. Once they understand my philosophy, if they embrace that they will thrive.”

Hughes straight-batted any questions about the club’s interest in signing Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho and his Brazilian countryman Jo, who is a striker at CSKA Moscow.

But Shinawatra told the Daily Mail: “Ronaldinho - you know, he is a great player. Whatever the club in your heart, you would want to see this player in England, wouldn’t you?”

“It is not a risk. Sponsors will contribute. It will not damage our wage structure. Garry and Pairoj, my chief advisor, they are taking care of this transfer. I am very excited.

“I am 59 next birthday, so I am not a man who can wait for many years to see my dreams come true.”

He added: “I am hearing good things about his hunger. I have spoken to his brother (and agent).

“Ronaldinho wants the new challenge, the chance to play his best football again, to return to the days when he was really, really famous.

“The magic is still in his boots. Let us hope we can bring him.”

Executive chairman, Cook, also said the arrival of Jo was close.

He said: “We have had a conversation with Mark Hughes about this because we wanted to see what he felt but it would be fair to say we expect to see Jo at Manchester City.”