Mark Hughes discusses Sir Alex Ferguson's network of spies... but has no sympathy for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney after drinking incident

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Mark Hughes can remember the days when players were caught out drinking late by Sir Alex Ferguson’s network of spies rather than fans with phone cameras but the Stoke manager has stressed that is not the only difference in modern day football.

Hughes insists players can no longer consume alcohol in the liberal manner of his era due to the advances in sport science, with a clear message to Wayne Rooney following the England striker’s early-hours boozing session.

Rooney was embarrassed by being captured worse for wear while posing for pictures with supporters the night before a training session, placing his England captaincy at risk and prompting the FA to launch an investigation. 

Mark Hughes commented on Wayne Rooney's situation following the international break

He revealed that his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right) had a network of spies

Any straying by Hughes or his Manchester United teammates during his playing days was inevitably discovered in a different way, usually via the word-of-mouth of spotters loyal to Ferguson out in town. But selfies and social media mean such a check-up system is no longer required for Premier League managers.

�You know very quickly if someone has been out, there are very few secrets in the world, ’ said Hughes. 

�With Fergie he knew every bouncer of every nightclub in Manchester. That’s where he got his information from! It wasn’t a bad tactic in those days because a lot of the lads were bouncing round nightclubs thinking they were getting away with it. 

Hughes does not believe that players go out drinking as much as they did in his day

�But it was a different era, that’s what everybody did. I don’t think it happens anywhere near the scale it used to, to be perfectly honest.

�It is very difficult to be a personality or a sportsman in this day and age in terms of being in the public eye. Any perceived slip ups or misdemeanours are highlighted because sometimes it seems people want you to fail. That is the world we live in.

�But you have a responsibility to yourself to behave in a certain way. A modern day footballer cannot be out socialising and putting the wrong things in their body because they can’t perform at the level they are asked to. 

Wayne Rooney has been subject to criticism following an incident during his England duty

�You have to know your limitations, some guys need to unwind after games, the adrenaline is pumping through your veins. Everybody is different.

�For the most part British players always used to have a few pints after the game because it brought you down, and I was the same. That’s ok if it’s at the right time. It is frowned upon more than it used to be because we have more information now about how alcohol affects the body.

�There is a balance clearly. You have to recognise situations before they develop and maybe pre-empt things. You have an obligation to your club and fans.’