BITING BACK ... City ace Robinho
Saturday, 5
December 2009
The Brazilian admits that Carlo Ancelotti's Blues are
the top side in England at the moment - but they are not
unstoppable.
Robinho, 25, said: "Chelsea are the best team in the
Premier League at the moment because Manchester United are not
playing with the same rhythm as they did at the end of last
season.
"It is not an easy game for us but given the spirit in
our squad this week, I believe the Blues will suffer in Manchester.
"It's the basics for us. We must score goals - without them we
don't win matches.
"Drogba is one of the best strikers in the world and
Nicolas Anelka is having some big moments too. We are working on a
system to stop them - but our defence must avoid any costly
errors.
"From my point of view, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho
are the best central defenders in Europe but they do have their
little weak points and I want to exploit them."
Robinho, 25, has been a frustrated spectator while
City's own title hopes have stuttered on a run of seven successive
Premier League draws, leaving them a massive 14 points behind
today's visitors.
The Brazil ace - whose very first City strike came
against Chelsea last season - is only just back after his enforced
lay-off following a stress fracture in an ankle he suffered while
playing for Brazil in early September.
He is confident Mark Hughes' side can rip up the form
book at Eastlands today and still challenge for a top-four finish
at the end of the season to book a ticket to next season's
Champions League.
And Robinho, who made his comeback as a sub in last
weekend's 1-1 draw with Hull, swept aside speculation linking him
with a January move to European champions Barcelona by insisting he
has unfinished business at Eastlands.
He said: "City will play in Europe but the Champions
League is the main challenge and it's still possible. "I still
dream that City will see the very best of me, the way I played for
Real Madrid. I don't want to fail in this adventure.
"I came to England to triumph and to demonstrate my
quality. I still think this is possible so I do not want to speak
about my future. "I have a deal with City and now my mission is to
work and help the club. "I have spoken with manager Mark Hughes and
he has no problems with me - he's happy that I have returned after
injury."
City fans will be pleased to hear Robinho's assurance
that he is committed to the Eastlands cause - especially after
World Cup legend Franz Beckenbaeur's remarks that the Brazilian
'can play in a circus but he's not a team player'.
They certainly need him firing on all cylinders again.
Robinho has 14 goals in 33 starts for City since his shock arrival
from Spanish giants Real 16 months ago.
He has yet to get off the mark this season although
Hughes' men are buzzing after Wednesday's 3-0 Carling Cup triumph
over Arsenal earned the club's first appearance in a cup semi-final
since 1981.
That victory took some of the pressure off the
Eastlands boss, although Hughes is under no illusions about the
size of the task facing his side tonight.
The Welshman said: "If Chelsea continue to play in the
same vein absolutely they will win the title. "They've been the
standout team up to this point - they are close to being the best
team in Europe.
"That's the size of our challenge. We're not only going
up against the best teams in the Premier League, but some of them
are the best in Europe."
