City managed to beat Fulham 1-4 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League on Sunday.
“On their performance today certainly they’re contenders,” said Hughes.
“They were excellent. If they have belief and there’s some forward thinking, and maybe they’re a bit more attack-minded as they were today on more occasions, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be. They’ve got as good a chance as anybody.
“It’s wide open. No one is running away with it.
“I don’t like getting beaten by anybody in that manner, irrespective of whether it is City or not. This was our worst performance of the season, and it came against a very good side. We know that we are better than that.”
