Stoke City round-up: Hughes and Arnautovic on Boro win; Macari says this man is key; Imbula speaks about future

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Mark Hughes expressed his delight with his team’s performance against Middlesbrough but admitted that he was not surprised to see a reaction following the heavy defeat at White Hart Lane in their previous fixture.

A first half brace from Marko Arnautovic sealed the points for The Potters who would have been disappointed to have not won by a larger score after Ramadan Sobhi hit the post and the Egyptian, Joe Allen, and Ibrahim Afellay were all denied by superb saves in the second period. It was a complete contrast to the poor display offered against Tottenham Hotspur one week ago but Hughes told the official Stoke City website that he was not surprised to see his side bounce back.

“I’m not surprised. We have seen the guy’s bounce straight back from disappointments on a number of occasions in the past. In fairness, we were up against a top team last weekend and prior to that our form was good. Ideally we don’t want to have to suffer disappointing results to stimulate the group. The only negative, if there is one, is that we weren’t able to win the game more comprehensively.”

Hughes was also full of praise for Stoke’s charismatic winger Arnautovic.

“He was outstanding today, especially in the first half, but we have come to expect that from him now. He took his two goals superbly well and we all know how important Marko is to us. When he plays well we more often than not reap the rewards. We all know the quality he possesses and there is no doubt about it, he is a real handful for any team in the league.”

Meanwhile, former Stoke City manager Lou Macari claims that goalkeeper Lee Grant will need to produce a special performance on Wednesday evening if The Potters are to come away from their fixture at the Etihad Stadium with a positive result.

The 67-year-old is highly thought of in North Staffordshire after managing Stoke in two separate spells during the 1990s and he told the Stoke Sentinel that Grant will need to be at his very best against Manchester City.

“[Stoke] will need another special performance by Lee Grant to come away from The Etihad with anything. He managed just that kind of performance on his last trip to Manchester when he produced some wonderful goalkeeping to keep Manchester United at bay. Something similar is required again.”

Macari was also full of praise for Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero. The Argentinian scored his 23rd goal of the campaign against Sunderland on Sunday afternoon and is set to lead the attack against Stoke in midweek despite rumours that he will be sold in the summer.

“We are too quick in this country to label players as world class and world beaters, but fair play to Aguero, he’s been knocking in goals regularly for half-a-dozen seasons now and current form suggests he’s got a few more up his sleeve.”

Stoke City star Marko Arnautovic proclaimed that the performance of the team in the two-goal victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday was the “perfect reaction” after the heavy defeat inflicted by Tottenham Hotspur one week ago.

The Potters were on the receiving end of an embarrassing four-goal mauling at White Hart Lane with the poor performance drawing criticism from supporters as well as Mark Hughes and club chairman Peter Coates. However, the team produced a much-improved display on home soil against Middlesbrough as they eased to a comfortable 2-0 win and Arnautovic was keen to praise the contribution of his colleagues.

“It was the perfect reaction. The whole team did well following last weekend’s result, so well done to them and to the fans as well who were right behind us. It was a good day all round and I hope we can continue like this for the remainder of the season.”

The 27-year-old scored a brace at the weekend to take his goal tally for the season up to six, although he told the official Stoke City website that a teammate was attempting to claim his second strike.

“The first goal was a great ball by Glenn [Whelan]. I took a touch and saw the goalkeeper come out, took it around him and shot. It was a good goal. The second one Ryan [Shawcross] thought he touched the ball, it was not like that!”

Giannelli Imbula insists that it is no ‘big deal’ that he has struggled to break into the Stoke City first team this season and that he is waiting patiently for his opportunity to impress Mark Hughes.

The 24-year-old arrive for a club-record transfer fee of in excess of £18,000,000 in January 2016 but has failed to cement a player in The Potters starting line-up despite initially impressing. The central midfielder has clearly fallen out of favour having not started a league game since the turn of the year and being omitted from the matchday squad entirely at the weekend. However, the Stoke Sentinel report that Imbula is prepared to wait for his opportunity.

“Picking the team is the choice of the coach. I try to work hard in training and I have someone who takes care of me physically so I’m ready, waiting my turn. I have already spoken [to Mark Hughes]. It was no big deal. I focus on what I have to do.”

There have been suggestions that Imbula will depart the Bet365 Stadium in the summer after Stoke entertained bids from a number of clubs on the continent during the January transfer window. There have been whispers that Marseille will look to bring the central midfielder back to France, where he started his career, although Imbula would not be drawn on his future.

“Marseille hold very good memories for me. It’s the club that allowed me to make my name in France, I will always thank them for that. A move back? I will not talk about it. I focus on Stoke. We will see at the end of the season.”

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