Boss Hughes enjoyed a fantastic playing career, winning The FA Cup four times with Manchester United and Chelsea as well as enjoying stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Blackburn v Stoke
The FA Cup Fifth Round
3pm, Saturday 14 February
Ewood Park
He finished his career at Blackburn Rovers at a time when a teenage Walters was working his way through the ranks at Ewood Park – a ground where the Potters pair return to this afternoon for an FA Cup Fifth Round tie.
“I wasn’t too much involved with the first-team [when Hughes was there], I was in the youth side and reserves,” Walters told FATV. “We always used to go to the first-team games. I remember playing Barcelona in a pre-season friendly and I’m pretty sure he scored.
“He was a very good player, and even then the quality and technique he had was great.”
And his return to Ewood, he added: “Blackburn is a huge club, and it’s going to be a very difficult tie.”
Following his recent hat-trick against QPR, Walters showed that his manager’s cool and calm style to management is paying off – and Hughes says his aim is to bring out the best in his men instead of ranting and raving at them.
“That’s just me, I’m not someone that’s just constantly straining for attention or one of those guys that feels the need to make noise to make people aware of them,” he said.
“I’m quite level, I don’t get too excited or too upset, I don’t think you can afford to be in this business.
“My style of management is about trying to bring out the best in people.”
Watch the exclusive FATV video interview with Hughes and Walters above.
