What the papers say

 

MICHEL PLATINI is on the warpath because he's worried about the effects of the cash being poured into the game, while Mark Hughes takes a dim view of the Copenhagen coach's comments on City's newly-found wealth.

Manchester Evening News

"Sparky hits back at jibes"

 

BLUES boss Mark Hughes has hit back at opposite number Stale Solbakken for claiming City's wealth could `destroy football'.

The two men will come face to face in the sub-zero temperatures of the Parken Stadium tonight and the Norwegian may find he gets a frosty reception.

However, Hughes believes the Blues becoming the target for pot-shots from within the game should be viewed as a positive.

"Yes, their coach has said a lot, hasn't he? We've had the benefit of the money for five or six months and we haven't destroyed football yet so I don't think that is going to happen," declared the City chief in response to former Wimbledon player Solbakken, who also said he felt Hughes has a very difficult job.

"In years gone by, no-one was talking about City. Now, every time there is a question about football in general, our name gets brought up and people respond to that.

"Everybody seems to want to knock us. We don't think we are arrogant but people still seem to take exception. They are not in possession of the full facts and they are just looking at it from the outside."

City are likely to include Robinho and a clutch of other expensive stars in tonight's first leg against FC Copenhagen.

Hughes has refused to lay the blame for a poor performance at Portsmouth at the feet of the Brazilian and despite admitting that the best two away shows of the season - at Schalke and Sunderland - were achieved without the attacking midfielder he seems ready to give him another chance.

 “We have had a brief word and we have an opportunity now that we are away to talk some more,” he declared. “We will speak in depth - not only to Robinho but everyone. I know he took a lot of criticism after Fratton Park whereas other players should have come into focus as well in that regard. It wasn't just about Robinho's performance - it was about our collective performance.

“He hasn't had a great deal of Premiership football away from home. I think that's the key to it. We have to realise that's where we are at the moment with him. The setbacks we are having now will stand him in good stead because away from home you have to understand that it requires a different mentality.

“Sometimes you have to play percentage football and you can't play the way you want to play as a person and as a team because, on occasion, the other team will have something to say about that. You have to find another way and at the moment we are struggling to find another way.”

 

Daily Telegraph

"Platini aims to curb big-spending culture"

Michel Platini says Uefa will address two issues which he believes are blighting football – the frivolous spending by clubs and the exploitation of young players.

The Uefa president warned that "the values that football represents are in danger" and told MEPs in Brussels: "We [Uefa] are looking at the idea of limiting a club's expenditure to an as yet undecided percentage of its direct and indirect sporting revenue."

Platini hinted discussions over a salary cap were accelerated by one club's "astronomical bids" in January.

It is believed he was referring to Manchester City and their failed £107 million bid for AC Milan's Brazilian forward Kaka.

The former Juventus playmaker also pleaded with the European parliament to help Uefa in their bid to make football more financially stable despite labour laws which currently promote free trade.

"Whatever happens, please do not stop us, on the basis of inappropriate legislation, from establishing financial fair play," he added.

"Do not stop us from acting morally. Especially when all the stakeholders –- clubs, players and national associations –- agree with my proposals for greater financial transparency and better governance."

He also described the recruitment of overseas youngsters by Europe's top clubs as "child trafficking".

"Free movement from the age of 16 considerably undermines training clubs and encourages international trafficking of children," Platini said. "Most youngsters who are brought to Europe from third-world countries do not become Ronaldinhos or Eto’os.

"Often enticed by a shady agent, they stagnate for a few years in a semi-professional club in eastern or southern Europe, usually ending up with no qualifications, no future in sport and no identity papers, doing odd jobs for paltry wages."

He added: "I have thought about this problem a great deal and I am now convinced that the international transfer - yes international - of players under 18 should be prohibited, fully in accordance with the Fifa statutes. Some people talk about the free movement of workers. I am talking about the protection of children."