what the papers say

Robinho and me, by striker Craig

 

CRAIG BELLAMY is in the spotlight again ... City's Wales striker has been putting the record straight on his relationship with Robinho as well as setting out his philosophy for winning games

 

Daily Telegraph

"Bellamy moves to stamp out talk of rift"

 Rory Smith writes: Craig Bellamy has dismissed reports that the Manchester City dressing room is in a state of open revolt against Brazilian Robinho, insisting he "adores" playing alongside the British record signing

 Bellamy was thought to have accused Robinho, and Elano of being "lazy" following last week's 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth. Sources close to the club suggested that, following a meeting at the club's training ground, the pair refused to speak to each other.

 Mark Hughes, the Manchester City manager, denied a rift existed after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Anfield, in which Robinho and Bellamy combined to give City the lead.

 Yesterday, the Wales international spoke warmly of playing alongside the former Real Madrid player.

 He said: "I am a massive admirer of Robinho. I adore him as a player – how could you not? He's exceptional and I think other teams know that.

 "He's our talisman. When people think of Manchester City, they think of Robinho. He's our biggest and best player by a mile. For us, he's a player we need to play well. When he plays well, we play well, so we need him at the top of his game."

 Such admiration is unlikely to staunch the flow of rumours about the atmosphere among City's players. Accusations that the club's Brazilian contingent – reduced by one after Jo was loaned to Everton earlier this month – refused to submit to Hughes's disciplinary regime have been rife since the start of the season and the manager has clashed with Elano and fined Robinho.

 Bellamy is no stranger to controversy and former team-mates Alan Shearer and John Arne Riise would testify that he is susceptible to falling out with team-mates. That history, combined with the intense spotlight on City since the club's takeover, means he accepts he is likely to be thought of as a potential source of discord.

 He said: "It's all part-and-parcel of what goes on, all part of being a footballer and you have to deal with it.

 "We're a club everyone is looking at for the moment. It doesn't worry me."

Daily Mirror

"Steel for Craig"

Alan Nixon writes: Craig Bellamy wants Manchester City to turn into the 'Steel Blues' and be a Premier League force home and away.

 He believes that in drawing 1-1 at Liverpool, City finally showed the grit lacking in an appalling record on the road that has brought just one win.

 City host Copenhagen on Thursday in the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie and Bellamy said: "You have to work hard, especially away from home.

 "You have to really battle to get a foothold in the game and then the quality players come into it. It was a good step for us to play like that at Anfield."