Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has said the 'big four' clubs in the Premier League are favoured by referees.

Hughes' City are spearheading the charge to break up the stranglehold that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have on the UEFA Champions League spots in England.

Backed by the Abu Dhabi United Group's millions, Hughes has been charged with the task of qualifying for Europe's elite club competition, while the likes of Everton, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur hold similar aspirations.

However, Hughes has hinted that those clubs trying to force their way into the top four spots need to overcome the perceived assistance currently given to the established 'big four'.

"You have to be careful because you cannot go around questioning the integrity of people trying to do their jobs," Hughes told the Daily Mirror.

"But if you are talking about games involving Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Arsenal, they are big games with huge profiles and if decisions are incorrect, there are consequences. Key decisions become hugely significant.

"Maybe there's a different mindset with the top four. They have had the benefit of a high profile over a long period and there is maybe a bit of gravitas in that.

"Maybe there's also a bit of reverence from the powers that be in terms of their relationship with the personality involved in those clubs.

"The referees don't exactly get sucked in to it, but it's there. It's not tangible - you can't grab hold of it - but there is something out there and that is another thing we have to break down."

Hughes also revealed that there is now a greater level of discipline within the City squad after stating it would have been the wrong time to take a hard-line stance during his first year in charge.

He added: "Last year there were occasions when I compromised my own standards and values and that didn't sit comfortably with me so I knew it wouldn't continue.

"Little details involving disciplinary indiscretions become big problems if you don't address them, but in the short term, I couldn't do anything about it. It was the wrong time.

"The benefit of addressing those little details at that time would have caused problems. Instead of solving problems, they would have created bigger problems. That was why at times I let things go. Not to my comfort, I have to say.

"But I knew there would be a time last summer where any of those issues created by certain people would be addressed because those people would leave.

"Managing a football club is about building a culture. I would suggest a lot of other managers don't get involved in trying to build a mentality, but I don't think you can be successful without it.

"It is about trying to get a work ethic and a way of thinking that enables you to be successful as a group. If you have too many pulling in the wrong direction, you have to cut them off.

"My values won't be compromised in the future because we are in a different place now."