Robinho: Wants to change City attitude
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City brush off Robinho comments
Robinho will escape disciplinary action by Manchester City boss Mark Hughes after claiming the club has a small-time mentality.
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Hughes believes the player's remarks in a television interview were taken out of context.
Record buy Robinho, who arrived on transfer deadline day from Real Madrid for Ģ32.5million, wants a radical change in the club's outlook.
Hughes has similar ambition and said: "Robinho is a big part of what we are doing here. He has had a huge impact and those comments are not going to change anybody's opinion of how he is doing.
"We all know where we are at this time and we are working to get better on a daily basis. The players know what we are trying to do.
"We want to build a focus in the team and are trying to get stronger both in a physical and mental sense.
"While we are finding that a little bit difficult it is not through lack of effort or lack of will.
"It is something all the top four clubs have. But we are not at that point in our development. It will come, though, because as we get better that mentality will be more robust."
Robinho's comments follow an outburst by fellow Brazilian Elano, who complained publicly about not getting enough game time at City.
Elano's actions resulted in a fine but Hughes has no plans to hit Robinho in the pocket.
Hughes said: "I view this as a different matter because people have jumped on certain statements.
"They are trying to emphasise the negative part of it. I think it is a phrase from Robinho that has been taken out of context and it should be viewed as it was given at the time.
"Some of the comments were taken in isolation and sound a little bit damning. But when you see the full interview and the tone in which it was given, I don't think people should place much emphasis on it.
"When you see the interview, it is done with a smile on his face. It is done with tongue in cheek as well."
City are aiming to bounce back following the derby defeat by Manchester United when they face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Cup at Eastlands on Wednesday.
The French side also suffered a loss at the weekend, going down by a single goal to Rennes.
With two wins under their belt already Hughes can relax in the knowledge his side have clinched a place in the last 32.
However, he wants to finish the last two matches - they play Racing Santander in Spain in a fortnight - in style.
Hughes said: "There is a prize to be had. If we are to finish top of the group that is to our benefit. Hopefully that will mean an easier draw in the last 32.
"If we can get a positive result from this match that should be enough, and I feel we can make chances at home against any team.
"PSG are a good side. They need a decent result but it just depends on what significance they place on this competition.
"They have changed their team in previous rounds and protected their senior players for league games."
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Your Comments
AboveUsOnlySky (Liverpool fan)
"what a surprise, basically that interview can be translated to reag "please come and rescue me i dream of playing at Stamford Trafford or The old Bridge"
hahahaha liitle bitch"
se69 (Manchester City fan)
""Majesteetti" well pointed out, Elano should be played instead of Vassell, it also takes time for players to get used to each other and gell as a unit."
femoo (Manchester United fan)
"Do you have any choice but to give in? Do anything contrary and you'll upset Robinho. We cant afford that can we? "
kdelay (West Ham United fan)
"jgn_1982: Hang on a bit mate. How is Mark Hughes out of his depth??? They have only bought one top class player since his appointment so tell me how they are any different from the Blackburn team that finished top 6 in PL??? Maybe you could say that if they had bought halp the league but they havent. What is clear is that one player does not make a team win. I think you need to calm down mate! "
Majesteetti (Manchester United fan)
"I think Hughes is a good manager. Not great yet, but good. Just look what he did with limited funds at Blackburn! Ok, City have much more money than the Rovers do, but Hughes hasnīt been able to spend THAT MUCH yet, even though City already bought big in Robinho. Zabaleta, Robinho, Jo, Kompany, Ben Haim- all new players. Elano, Benjani, Petrov and co. have been there for a year or so! Itīs hard to get a team to play together as a new manager, and itīs that much harder when you have many new players and when some of them have bad or so-and-so attitude. Itīs about getting the team to play together. Surely, playing Vassell at the expense of Elano is not a good move. But I think City have a good squad, once Hughes gets them to play like they did against the Gunners. If and when they buy big next month, Hughes (or the next manager) has the recurring problem of getting the team to form a solid unit. Cheers."
penners (West Ham United fan)
"you could see this coming a mile off.gets his "dream move" to any english team, then start engineering a move before the transfer window. very clever. lets be honest, he is quality and should be at a better team."
jgn_1982 (Aston Villa fan)
"city are becoming such a joke - no disrespect to their fans intended - i have never seen a manager so out of his depth in my life !! Everyone knows he is, even himself, he should do the honorable thing now and walk as he is in the process of ending his career at the top level for good with city. Robinho and Elano clearly have no respect for him, as does Jo, who is normally to drunk to even remember he is actually quite good. Everything is slowly falling to sh@t at city and it wont turn around until hughes is gone and a real manager comes in who can handle a big club."
haaX (Manchester United fan)
"City wont play in europe next season. Neither."
SayNOtoKirkby (Everton fan)
"You sign a player who doesn't even know which club he's joining and act surprised when he comes out with this sort of nonsense? I've no time for City or their rich Arab benefactors, they are as much of a joke now as they have always been. Robinho is right but it should be pointed out that no matter how good he is as an individual player, its teams that win trophys and his comments show as much of a lack of respect to his team mates as they do his own lack of integrity in signing for purely financial reasons. Finally Mark Hughes is a good manager - just look at Blackburn since he left."
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