Brazilian superstar Robinho has been declared fit for Manchester City's latest European voyage - with manager Mark Hughes no doubt hoping the £32.5million striker will be galvanised by the stinging attack of FC Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken.
Rather than try to play down the significance of Thursday's UEFA Cup last-32 encounter in Denmark, Solbakken has gone for the jugular, with a withering outburst at the finances on offer to City, and their suitability to spend them.
"The amounts of money that has been mentioned are incredible," Solbakken told Ekstra-Bladet.
"I think that such incredible sums will take part in destroying football.
"They are creating too big a mental distance between what we call reality and then Manchester City."
Although he did not mention the failed attempt to sign Brazilian superstar Kaka, Solbakken could have been referring to it with an attack on how much difference the money being invested in City will actually make.
"The hardest part for City is that they, by tradition, are not a big football club and therefore all the money in the world does not make a difference for them," Solbakken said.
"They brought in Wayne Bridge even though he is only marginally better than what they had already and that says how hard it is to get the best players even though you have lots of money."
If Hughes needed any help restoring his side's morale after the dismal weekend reverse at Portsmouth, Solbakken - who played for Wimbledon in 1997-8, has provided it.
However, the Blues chief needs no reminding City were almost humbled by Midtjylland in the final qualifying round last August when they required a last-minute own goal and then a penalty shoot-out to squeeze into the main competition draw.
Since then, City have bitten the dust to lower league opposition in both the Carling and FA Cups and have won only once away from home in the Premier League.
It is a disappointing tale of woe that will ensure Hughes is on his guard on Thursday, when skipper Richard Dunne and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips return from suspension.
Both men were badly missed at Fratton Park, although at least Dunne has now completed a four-match domestic ban to add his presence to the City back-line.
Wright-Phillips is the man Hughes really needs though, to supply the ammunition Robinho and Craig Bellamy were so badly lacking at the weekend.
"We lacked the ability to drive past people with pace and get behind them," Hughes told www.mcfc.co.uk.
"It was a struggle but Shaun will help in that respect - he takes people on in good areas and things happen when you do that."
"The amounts of money that has been mentioned are incredible," Solbakken told Ekstra-Bladet.
"I think that such incredible sums will take part in destroying football.
"They are creating too big a mental distance between what we call reality and then Manchester City."
Although he did not mention the failed attempt to sign Brazilian superstar Kaka, Solbakken could have been referring to it with an attack on how much difference the money being invested in City will actually make.
"The hardest part for City is that they, by tradition, are not a big football club and therefore all the money in the world does not make a difference for them," Solbakken said.
"They brought in Wayne Bridge even though he is only marginally better than what they had already and that says how hard it is to get the best players even though you have lots of money."
If Hughes needed any help restoring his side's morale after the dismal weekend reverse at Portsmouth, Solbakken - who played for Wimbledon in 1997-8, has provided it.
However, the Blues chief needs no reminding City were almost humbled by Midtjylland in the final qualifying round last August when they required a last-minute own goal and then a penalty shoot-out to squeeze into the main competition draw.
Since then, City have bitten the dust to lower league opposition in both the Carling and FA Cups and have won only once away from home in the Premier League.
It is a disappointing tale of woe that will ensure Hughes is on his guard on Thursday, when skipper Richard Dunne and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips return from suspension.
Both men were badly missed at Fratton Park, although at least Dunne has now completed a four-match domestic ban to add his presence to the City back-line.
Wright-Phillips is the man Hughes really needs though, to supply the ammunition Robinho and Craig Bellamy were so badly lacking at the weekend.
"We lacked the ability to drive past people with pace and get behind them," Hughes told www.mcfc.co.uk.
"It was a struggle but Shaun will help in that respect - he takes people on in good areas and things happen when you do that."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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