He enjoyed the experience plenty of times as a player, managed the feat whilst manager at Blackburn Rovers - and now wants a repeat with the Blues.
And he hopes to engineer another triumph in style by going to United and being positive from the first whistle.
"In the past I have been there with Blackburn and succeeded and there is a great satisfaction in going to Old Trafford and taking points off them. It is a great experience when it happens," he smiled.
Belief
"My reception is not something that I will lose too much sleep about, at the end of the day it is great to be able to go there as manager of City and the aim is to perform well and win.
"We have to go there with belief and confidence and come away from the game without any regrets, knowing we have given it our best shot. You go there as a test and it is reassuring when you pass that test and acquit yourself well.
"We have a hunger and passion which has been building. Confidence comes from winning games and physically knowing that you can stand up to the challenge. We are near that point now, though we are still building and developing the team.
"I still get a buzz out of derby day, everybody does and it something that I am looking forward to. Come Sunday we will be ready."
Hughes believes that when it comes to match-winners, City can boast as many as their neighbours and is adamant that he is building a team at Eastlands that is marbled with players who understand what being a Blue is all about and that can eventually match the achievements of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.
Confidence
"United have individuals who can win games on their own even when they are not playing well or when the team is not functioning as they would like but it is true to say we now have those individuals in our team too," asserted the manager.
"Sunday is about making sure we maintain the confidence levels of recent games and relish testing ourselves. I think it is really important that you have a group of players who understand what the club is about and we have that here. They know what the derby means to everyone out there.
"When you have players who have come through the ranks or been around the place for a long time then that is a real positive and key element to the side and can sustain you when things are not going well. It is great to have players who have an emotional bond with the club and the supporters.
"We are playing well and enjoying our football and I expect more of the same on Sunday. We need to make sure we exploit the momentum of the game when it is flowing in our favour as it will on occasions.
"United don't have many weaknesses, they are strong in all positions and have cover in all positions too but it is up to us to find weaknesses and exploit them.
"If we can beat them then it is another indication that we are going in the correct direction. We have aspirations to be challenging them in years to come so this is a good bench-mark.
Bragging
"Sometimes United fans would have you believe that the game against Liverpool or Chelsea or Arsenal is more important but they will want those bragging rights and so do we."
City are looking for back-to-back league wins at Old Trafford for the first time since the early 1970s but there may be as few as four survivors from the team that won there under Sven-Goran Eriksson last season.
Hughes has Shaun Wright-Philips and Pablo Zabaleta back to full fitness for the contest which puts Elano and Micah Richards under most pressure for a starting berth though it would be a surprise if he tinkered with a side and formation that has won the last two league games at Everton and at home to Blackburn, scoring five times in the process.
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Off topic but I can see Drogba coming to City this summer especially if he gets a 6 match European ban, with maybe Sturridge going the other way!
Dont really like Drogba but when he is in the mood and in form he is unstoppable would rather him in my team than against him!
Would not like to be a defender facing Drogba Bellamy with Robinhio Ireland and SWP coming through from midfield.
Are well makes a change from all this derby talk!
Cmon City.
Look right I am fed up with being compared to United.
To quote the MEN 'match the achievements of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville'. By putting Man United and their players on such a pedestal we not only feed their own smugness, but also increase our own inferiority complexes.
I dont want our club to be compared to that club. United are not a template to follow. We will do things our way and the City way. Manchester City will dominate the premier league in our own right.
hmmm, I disagree, I think he will tinker and that, if fit, SWP and Zabaleta will start the game ahead of Micah and Elano. I may be wrong, of course. Personally, I think Elano has been pretty good on the right (where I think he is best suited and where he sometimes plays for Brazil) and, although Zab is a better player, you have to say that Micah gave everything against Blackburn and made some good runs. Certainly, if Zab or SWP are not 100% fit they should not start. He may even go for Zab in midfield in place of De Jong, whom I thought was not up to much in the last game. SWP would ordinarily be automatic first choice ahead of Elano on the right but I'd be tempted to bring him on as a sub. It will puff Elano's chest out a bit if he starts and you ma actually want SWP in the middle if we have to chase the game. He was good there at the beginning of the season and it's an area where, without Bellamy, we are lacking pace and penetration. It will be interesting to see what he goes for.
Just read the headline that a Spanish paper claims we are in for Raul at £35,000,000 - Please let this be a rumour and nothing more, 35 million for a 31 year old striker who would be painfully slow in the Premiership!
What time do you think Richard Dunne will score his first own goal ?
Chris Foy is ref for Sunday. Only 2 reds and 78 yellows this season which means he doesn't like to get his cards out. Means it could be repeat of COMS with SWP/Elano/Robbie getting battered and them getting away with it.
He was also the ref that let Tranny of with (yet another) bout of petulance at Stoke on Boxing Day.
Oh well, looks like 11 against 12 again!
City Slipper,
Raul is a brilliant player but you are right about his lack of pace and age.
I`m sure Mark Hughes will select the same team that has not let him down in the last few games but I would love to see Sweep flying past Evra and causing the United defence all kinds of problems. United must be wary of him by the treatment they dished out on him in the game at the C.O.M.S.Lets hope we have a decent Ref and that at some stage Sweep gets on the pitch.
I was at the swamp last season when we beat them and the player who celebrated the most after the final whistle was Petrov . Nice to have two great players standing in the wings ( no pun intended ).We were the better team last season and will be this year.
COME ON YOU BLUES
SILVER FOX, Albir, Spain
I would rather Drogba than Raul. I think Chelsea's strength caused Barca real problems. Messi and Eto'o were ineffectual. I think they would not suit the premiership as much as Italy or Spain. Players get more time there, less tackles. To compete in the prem we have the flair, but need to add the strength. A big strong striker who can hold the ball up and who has pace. A tall classy centre back. A box to box complete midfielder. Terry, Essien and Drogba, in a fantasy world, would take us up the league a good few places. United too have the athletes to fight with the big boys. Our task on Sunday will require us converting the chances we have (and we will open them up on occassions) and maybe needing something special from our flair players. i would keep with the settled team and play Elano - he does not deserve to be dropped. SWP can come on if needed.
Rumours of Raul joining City - this is yet another player we don't want !!
we should be looking to get other younger players such as
Puyol, £15- £20m
Grosso, £5m - £7m
Bentley,£10m
Yaya, £25m
Diego £20m
Downing £12m - £14m and
Villa £35m
£125m should get all of those guys
If Hughes wants to maintain Elano's place in the 1st team and also bring SWeeP in, I think he might go for something like this: CF:Caicedo AMF:Elano LMF:Robinho RMF:SWeeP CMF:Ireland DMF:De Jong LB:Bridge LCB:Kompany RCB:Dunne RB:Zabaleta GK:Given. Subs: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Fernandes, Etuhu, Sturridge, Evans.
I've also seen the Raul story. Let's hope it's a rumour as 4 million Euros in too much for a player of his age. I'd prefer us to get Michael Owen on a free.
Never Mind all this derby garbage
There is only one team residing in the City of Manchester unlike other City's so there can not be a 'Derby' match.
MH were you watching Hamburg V Werder Bremen last night?
If So sign Olich & Diego NOW.
hit them hard from the word go
3-1 City
OB1,Raul WAS a top player playing alongside the best in the world at Real, in a league below Premiership standard. Against Chelsea, Messi, Eto etc gave a indication how they might struggle with the
physicallity of teams in our league.As we speak, no doubt agents of the likes of Raul, Drogba and any other "over the hil"l "A Listers" will be trying to dump them on us for a final wacky pay day.
If utd do have a weakness it is in the fullback positions, makes a good case for Petrov and SWP but who do you leave out? The rags will be anticipating most of our threat to come through the centre chanell, as it has for most of the season. Petrov is a massive threat and has caused them plaenty of problems in the past, just don`t know if Hughes will risk tampering with the line up. Not a bad problem to have as a manager, these are the times when managers earn their keep, will be interesting to see which way he goes.
As always our deficiencies at the back will dictate who we employ in midfield, if we are forced to use two defensive midfielders again we will have to rely on counter attacking breaks, Vince does appear however to be trying to play further forward in recent games and that has contributed to us looking more balanced. One answer would be to drop Dunne and send Vince to CB thus allowing us to use Petrov or SWP in midfield, just s thought.
how much on Dunny giving a penalty away....
We will do things our way and the City way. Manchester City will dominate the premier league in our own right.
George Orwell, Broadway, Moston
8/05/2009 at 10:58
Unfortunately 'our way', and 'the City way' has caused you to become a complete and utter laughing stock for the last 34 years!
Blue to bits.... Ollich is off to Bayern {done deal}, Diego would be a fantastic pick up and Werder are resigned to the fact they will loose him in the summer. Diego, Elano and Robi all played together at Santos and have played together numerous times with Brasil. Get rid of Berti and Jo though.
According to SkySports
Diego Milito's agent has revealed that he is currently in England holding talks with a number of Premier League clubs.
HUGHES WHY DID YOU HAVE TO OPEN YOUR BIG GOB.WE WILL GET BEAT 4 OR 5 NIL THE GUY IS A JOKE.
We will be watching closely agent Hughes, If this team rolls over and dies with their legs in the air on Sunday, I will expect our Arab friends to act and act decisively. we will be watching.
The 40 million euro for Raul seems to be wages as no fee would be involved for the player
Manager and team are doing a lot of talking about this game. Lets pray to God they can walk the walk as well as they are talking the talk.
Good luck boys. I will be there cheering you on. Three points would be great, But please please please just .( DON'T LOSE ). One point at least.
CTID
Raul in Darius out!!
Raziola, what do you mean "another player we don't want"? He scored 18 goals so far in La Liga and glorious Owen managed ...?How many?
Raul is a hard worker, never gives up and is somehow always at the right place at the right time (which was said about Caiceido recently and I think Raul is a worthwhile alternative to Fillipe). And who cares about how much they want to spend on him, as long as they come and play for us we should be marry and cheerful.