Mark Hughes talks about Robinho

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has said that allegations surrounding Robinho did not impact on the team's game against Newcastle. He said: "I spoke to him prior to the game just to make sure he was in the right frame of mind. It was immediately obvious to me that he was and he was preparing as normal for the game." "I think that showed in his performance. He was focussed, he had a positive impact on the team and he made the first goal." Robinho was arrested by police in relation to allegations that an 18-year-old woman was raped in a nightclub. The 25-year-old Brazilian forward, who is Britain's most expensive player, was questioned after a student told police she had been attacked in the VIP area of the Space club in Leeds on January 14. Hughes was also full of praise for the attitude his players have displayed in the face of a wave of speculation and rumours surrounding the club. He added: "The issues on occasion that seem to surround us at the moment, I think the players have an acceptance of that and understand they need to deal with those as and when they appear. "Its not easy on occasion, but you have to be strong minded and have the mentality to make sure they're still able to perform even if there are issues which are out of your control."

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ITN | January 30, 2009

Tags:. .robinho. .focussed. .vip. .mark hughes. .manchester city