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 said
Robinho arrived in Manchester from Real Madrid for a British
record sum of 32.5 million pounds ($48.28 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 Dec. 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 told reporters on Wednesday.
"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."