Robinho was 'restricted' at City

February 09, 2010

Robinho

Robinho has criticised Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for not giving him the freedom to express himself.

The Brazil striker joined City for a British record £32.5m in the summer of 2008 and made an instant impact, finishing as the club's leading scorer in his first season.

But this season has been a different story as, first under former boss Mark Hughes and then Mancini, Robinho spent most of his time on the bench.

He was loaned back to his first club, Santos of Brazil, last month and marked his debut on Sunday with the winning goal in their 2-1 win over Sao Paulo.

Talking of Mancini's tactics, Robinho told the Daily Mail: "He has a different way of thinking. In Brazil, the coach respects the player's characteristics.

"In Europe, they are used to playing with two lines of four players and they don't want to know what you can do.

"There, if you are a forward, the coach sends you on to the pitch just to run. You have to run and that's it."

Robinho is due to return to City after the World Cup, and he is confident he can showcase his talents in South Africa.

"I am preparing mentally and physically to be the best player at the World Cup," he added. "I'm at a good age. I have to get flying."

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Green and gold until we fold, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 09:53)

More ego-massaging and cheap talk from the best player in the world- in his own head.

Blue Meanie Reincarnated (09/02/2010 at 09:57)

A fair assessment of how Hughes wanted the team to play - play defensively and have forwards hoping to break past the opponents' defences.

And let's face it, who has been more successful - Robhino, or Hughes and the Taffia?

Saddleworth is Blue (09/02/2010 at 09:58)

I knew and said right here that it wouldnt be long for he started criticising us .
He makes me sick , he's up his own a*se and thinks he is bigger than any club .
When he joined he set off like a house on fire - then what nothing so the only person to blame is himself .
Mark Hughes and now Bobbi are far too respectful to be slagging him off in public .
Good riddance
CTID

Rick, Glos (09/02/2010 at 09:59)

Restricted by his own ability, attitude and lack of commitment. Not fit to lace Bellers' boots...

Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (09/02/2010 at 10:06)

Hardly worth commenting on. Sling your hook Robinho and don't darken our door again.

Minden blue, Minden, Germany (09/02/2010 at 10:08)

I hope he is the best player in South Africa. Maybe then, we can make a profit on the sale of him.

Esso Blue. Carlitos is officially a GOD , Blues Town (09/02/2010 at 10:09)

Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moon light, just blame it on the Boss. Ok, I believe you thousands wouldn't. Red Alert, Red Alert,The Daily Mail! say no more.

Kippax 36, High Heath (09/02/2010 at 10:13)

Talk is cheap Robbie and you were given chance after chance to do your talking on the pitch. But for whatever reason, you failed to grasp it and in the end were merely a passenger. Lets hope you have a good World Cup and some team comes in afterwards to offer a reasonable price for you then city can re-invest that cash in a player who genuinely wants to be the best that he can be! Jog on and stop blaming others you little tinker!!

curiousyellow, Rusholme (09/02/2010 at 10:13)

and he STILL blames everyone but himself!
arrogant little *!$#.

Giggsy's chest rug! (09/02/2010 at 10:13)

Kinda agree with what Robinho is saying here. He was clearly the most girfted player in your squad, but to get the best out of him, hughes or mancini needed to mould their team around him. Berbatov has had this problem at utd. At spurs he was the focal point of the team, which saw him perform week in week out for 2 years, where as at utd he had ronaldo and rooney to compete with. With injuries and the form of tevez and bellamy, he was always gonna leave. Not given enough oportunity if you ask me, but this seems to be the new policy at citeh. Mancini to be gone by the end of the season.

Audenshaw Bob (09/02/2010 at 10:17)

No freedom to express yourslef! How about when you were passed the ball you did something with it rather than fluffing a pass, let the ball go passed you or allowing youself to be jostled off the ball easily?

I don't see Tevez, Bellamy or SWP looking stiffled. They seem to have as much freedom as they want.

Robinho, if you are reading this you need only take a look in the mirror if you are looking to blame anybody. Au revoir.

Stolen from Ivor, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 10:17)

if he is the best player at this years world cup I'll eat my hat ... and do so most happily as that would only increase the fee we get for him when we sell him. it's not mancini who restricts you robbie it's defenders who just aren't prepared to let you ponce and dally about when they can take the ball off you by blowing you over with a feather

Drew Peacock (09/02/2010 at 10:20)

Ronbinho has the potential yo be the best....But he doesn't have that drive. He needs to bulk up more than anything, he was knocked off the ball too easily and his shot was never hit with any venom.

I personally hope he find what he is looking for and comes back to us because i loved watching him play but i am afraid it will not happen..... Like i said, he doesn't have the drive for it and prefers the easy road....that would explain why he never seemed to shine against quality opposition.

Lifelong Sufferer, Stockport (09/02/2010 at 10:20)

I was one of his fans but if this rant is true, then I'm glad he's gone. Frankly no top club in Europe will want his "talents" because he has no appetite to put the work in to help the team to win games, he's just a vastly over-rated primadona! A legend in his own lunch time!

The eternal optimist, Dreamland (09/02/2010 at 10:22)

This clown expressed himself fully on those cold winter away games when commitment was just a bit too much like hard work. Capable of outstanding moments of excellence, he needs a wave of euphoria to ride upon otherwise he is like a sulking 3 year old. Tevez could learn a very important skill from Robinho though and that is to make sure you hit the target with every shot rather than trying to break the net. If he does he will score 30+ goals this season, if he doesn't we will have to make do with 25 or so!!

Rowan Boat, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 10:22)

Hilarious. Good old Robinho. Its always someone else's fault isnt it.

OB1 (09/02/2010 at 10:27)

And i thought the coach sent forwards out to create and score goals. Ah well, that explains one thing.

The Invisible Man., Riviera Del Sol. Spain (09/02/2010 at 10:27)

this guy is deluded. the best player in the world cup? couldnt catch at madrid , was poor under Hughes and was completely absent under Mancini.
Well for one, i hope you do because at least this way someone may want to buy you come summer.

Peter Doherty. As good as it gets! (Was it really 37 years?), Levensulme (09/02/2010 at 10:31)

And Bobbinho just happens to be 'restricted' in the between-the-ears area and also the where-there-should-be-a-spine area. Here's hoping he continues to get goals against the equivalent of non-league defenders and thus keeps spouting his way out of our club and off to Turkey where a 'man' of his talents belongs...

Invisible Man, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 10:34)

Sorry son but I was at Goodison and you didn't even try. After a week at Barca's training ground last April the thing that really struck me was their appetite for hard work, especially when they don't have the ball. It was drummed into all their teams. Sadly Robi just didn't work anywhere near hard enough. Great player, awful attitude.

Portsmouth Blue (09/02/2010 at 10:37)

He will be back next season with a few more quality players around him he will prove he is a top player and show the world that he has the class to help push us forward.

kevin cairns, morecambe (09/02/2010 at 10:37)

He's not suited to playing in the Premiership and should have never played for Manchester City,he has helped raise our profile so his job is now done!

bornblue, Ulverston (09/02/2010 at 10:39)

He was only with Bobby Manc for 4 weeks so it really is a bit rich to blame him but then again he has to say something in his defence as his recent performances were woeful. Actually he is commenting on 'European Managers' in general rather than Bobby Manc in particular.
Top and bottom is he just can't hack it in the prem, like most Brasilians. Agree with the comment that if he can hack it at the World Cup we might get most of our outlay back (not that it matters of course)

The Insider, CTID. (09/02/2010 at 10:41)

Its about time he was honest with himself, the PL is far to strong & physical for the self richous ego that is Robhino, we dont miss him thats for sure !!! CTID BELIEVE.

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon (09/02/2010 at 10:44)

Robinho was over the moon when Hughes got the sack so his next target is to get Mancini out. Robinho would not be in this possion if he gave his 100% for the club.

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