Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager, has issued a stark warning to his squad not to cross him after Elano became the second player to be fined in less than two weeks for a breach of club discipline.

Elano appeared to question Hughes's managerial style during a television interview on Tuesday, which drew an angry reaction from the manager and resulted in the Brazil playmaker being fined a week's wages of about £40,000.

Jô, Elano's countryman, was also fined a week's wages after the out-of-form Brazil striker jeopardised his recovery from tonsillitis with a late-night visit to a Manchester nightclub in the run-up to City's 2-0 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers 13 days ago.

Hughes called Elano into his office this week and told him that any grievances should be aired privately and that he would not tolerate players talking out of turn. “Elano has been fined - they were inopportune [remarks] and he made a mistake,” said Hughes, who will be looking for an improvement from his team away to Hull City tomorrow after back-to-back defeats in the Barclays Premier League.

“We discussed it and he understands that it was wrong. Everyone at the club knows it was wrong - you knock on my door and we speak that way. The situation has been resolved, he understands it can't happen again in the future and everyone else understands that. When those things happen, if I hadn't done it [fine him] that sends a different message.”

Elano claimed in the interview that “when I am playing I know what he [Hughes] wants and when I come off there is nothing from him”. He also said that he was unhappy at not being played as often as he would like.

Hughes pointed out yesterday that Elano had started 13 of City's 20 games in all competitions this season. “Elano is an emotional guy and he wants to play every game, which is to his credit, but sometimes I will make decisions that will affect players personally and professionally,” Hughes said. “He has to understand it can't always be about the individual player, it has to be about the team.”

Although Hughes has credited Elano with helping Jô and Robinho to settle in Manchester, the midfield player is known to be a temperamental figure and his outburst this week is unlikely to improve his chances of remaining at the club beyond January, even if the manager insisted yesterday that he was a part of his plans.

“We have got players in the squad that I want to work with and use and Elano is certainly in that category because he's played a big part in the vast majority of games we've played,” said Hughes, who was given the unequivocal backing of Sheikh Mansour, the City owner, this week.