UEFA Cup - Hughes: Robinho is struggling

Eurosport - Thu, 16 Apr 12:14:00 2009

Brazil striker Robinho is finding it a struggle to make an impact in the second half of the Premier League season, Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has said.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 Premier League Manchester City's Brazilian duo Robinho and Elano look on from bench against Fulham - 0

Robinho arrived in Manchester from Real Madrid for a British record sum of £32.5 million on the last day of the summer transfer window.

However, following a fine start to the season which saw him score 12 goals, he has failed to find the net since December 28.

He was dropped to the bench for the first time last Sunday as City lost 3-1 at home to Fulham, their fifth defeat in their last six matches.

Hughes is expected to restore Robinho to City's starting line-up for Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final second leg against Hamburg, which they trail 3-1 after the first leg.

"Robby is a player who on his day can affect the game in a very, very positive way," Hughes said.

"What we are finding out at the moment in the second half of the season, at Premier League level certainly, is that teams have looked at him and had the opportunity to work out how to make Robby's impact on the game less than it had been in the first half of the season.

"Teams, because they understand he is an outstanding player, will try and stop him being effective and that is what has happened in some cases.

"In some games teams have had the ability to stop him having the impact we would like. It has been a struggle, not only for Robby but a number of players."

Hamburg spurned plenty of chances to take a bigger advantage to Manchester for the return and manager Martin Jol said his side would not look to play defensively despite being wary of an early City goal.

"We would like to score one or two goals," said the former Tottenham Hotspur manager who won all six league matches against City during his time at Spurs.

"If they get the first goal it could become critical. If they score early it could change the tie."

Reuters

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. How many 'ON' days Robinho has had?
    Even when­ he's ON, he need people around him. Ask him to­ give Becks a call.

    From Silver N, on Thu 16 Apr 5:16PM

  2. LOL No Sparky... we've got YOU figured out! Give­ up the passive aggressive blame game already. First Jo­ was supposedly @#$% with an attitude (now look at him­ at Everton), then Elano, now Robinho. Its not them...­ ITS YOU!

    From Tadaia, on Thu 16 Apr 4:34PM

  3. i think ppl like steven gerrard should be banned coz­ hes a scouser but it aint ever gonna happen

    From chris, on Thu 16 Apr 4:42AM

  4. Chris Louth

    Can't you see that ronaldo is a big­ show off

    he should be banned of scoring goals for life

    From Adrian, on Thu 16 Apr 4:33AM

  5. all you ppl like to have a go at the players who prove­ to b the most entertaining, i bet that the majority of­ u hate ronaldo coz he can skin the defenders in the­ teams u support respectivly but its just pathetic i­ personally think u should grow up and get a life u sad­ sad ppl

    From chris, on Thu 16 Apr 4:23AM

  6. the biggest flop since deco thank god chelsea didnt buy­ him
    chelea fan

    From aarongrimes123, on Thu 16 Apr 4:11AM

  7. Thank God we didn't buy the talentless fecker

    A­ Chelsea fan

    From H C, on Wed 15 Apr 11:38PM

  8. kinder feel sorry for him. It was great for his pocket­ but not for his career.

    From k.j_marshall_94, on Wed 15 Apr 11:15PM

  9. Absolutely fecking brilliant, Paying a record amount­ for a player to show chelsea what a waste it was is­ poetic justice.

    From darren g, on Wed 15 Apr 10:30PM

  10. at least the scousers are out

    From ALAN, on Wed 15 Apr 10:30PM

  11. he might score a hat trick tomorrow night

    From ALAN, on Wed 15 Apr 10:23PM

  12. hes playing with 10 muppets, put him in a top team like­ manchester united

    From ALAN, on Wed 15 Apr 10:22PM

  13. I think that a player like Robinho needs a good­ manager, Hughes is certainly struggling to squeeze the­ quality out of his team. Their "must buy"­ next season is another manager. Still can't forget­ that game they had against Nottingham Forrest. 3-0 down­ at home, the result speaks for itself. As for Robinho,­ i'd change clubs in summer if I was him.

    From Charlie, on Wed 15 Apr 10:18PM

  14. cos he was 32.5 mill evreone thinks he should be a­ superstar. he's in a teamof donkeys with a manager­ out of his depth. hes a good player but not 32 mill.­ needs 2 be with a big 4 team then u see a great robhino

    From Steve, on Wed 15 Apr 10:14PM

  15. IM NOT MAN C FAN BUT I FEEL BAD 4 D MONEY THEY SPENT 2­ BUY ROBINHO D YOUNG FELLA LOOKS BENT OUT,AND FOR SUM­ REASON MARK HUGHES MAGIC IS NOT ADDING UP,HE IS GOOD­ MANAGER BUT THINGS CHANGE AND HE HAS TO CHANGE HIS WAYS­ OF PLAY!!!JIM WHITE WANT HIM IN STAMFORD BRIDGE !!!VERY­ FUNNY!!!!!!!

    From samuel b, on Wed 15 Apr 10:09PM

  16. As a Chelsea fan i was gutted at first when we­ didn't get Robinho, but it now looks like we dodged­ a major bullet...£32mill for a bloke that's­ struggling to come to terms with the Premiership??­ Mmmmm....

    From roy, on Wed 15 Apr 10:01PM

  17. Technique, ride all over him so that he stops trying.­ Negative, yes. Has it worked? Yes.

    From david.clayton3, on Wed 15 Apr 9:57PM

  18. Technique, ride all over him so that he stops trying.­ Negative, yes. Has it worked? Yes.

    From david.clayton3, on Wed 15 Apr 9:57PM

  19. mark shud stay by big joe

    From koolkoko11, on Wed 15 Apr 9:41PM

  20. mark shud stay

    From koolkoko11, on Wed 15 Apr 9:37PM
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