Robinho: Brazil more important

Robinho claims he was not dropped against Portsmouth but rather asked to be left out ahead of Brazil's international match.

Mark Hughes' decision to leave Robinho on the substitutes' bench for last Sunday's 1-0 win at Fratton Park caused the odd raised eyebrow, with Craig Bellamy preferred down the left flank.

Robinho has been asked to occupy a deeper role this season, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez playing in front of him.

It has been suggested the 25-year-old Brazilian, often a peripheral figure away from home last season, could be used sparingly when City are not playing at Eastlands.

However, Robinho now claims it was his decision to be left out at Fratton Park so he could instead concentrate on getting fully fit for the upcoming international fixture.

On Saturday the two South American giants go head-to-head in a World Cup qualifier, with Argentina's campaign to date having left them struggling to book a place for South Africa 2010.

"I asked to not play because I had pains in the ankle, especially because Brazil against Argentina is more important," he is quoted as saying in the Daily Express.

"It is always a special match because of the rivalry of the two teams. No one ever wants to lose. Every player likes to play in these matches.

"Of course Carlos (Tevez) has expressed concern because Argentina are in a much more difficult situation than us."

Terry named defender of the year

John Terry has been named defender of the year by UEFA, while Lionel Messi picked up the club footballer-of-the-year award.

Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar took the goalkeeper of the year award.

Barcelona captain Xavi Hernandez won the midfielder of the year award, and his team-mate Messi was also named forward of the year.

UEFA also made a special award to Paolo Maldini to commemorate his retirement after 24 years playing for AC Milan.

Brown relishing the spotlight

Hull boss Phil Brown is excited by the prospect of kicking off the Premier League season in front of an audience of millions - even though he expects his side to be on the back foot for most of the game.

Brown's side face Chelsea in the first game of the 2009/10 season in Saturday's early kick-off and, with the Blues expected to challenge hard for the title under new boss Carlo Ancelotti, it is a match which will draw plenty of attention.

And having survived their first top-flight season by the narrowest of margins, Brown is happy to be in the spotlight once again.

"Since we came back on July 1, everyone's mindset has been on Chelsea and Stamford Bridge," he said.

"It's been brought forward for TV so now it's even bigger and of course it's Carlo Ancelotti's first game so it's very exciting.

"It's the best stage in the world and we're on it again tomorrow morning. Who knows, we might even be top of the league before everyone else kicks off."

If that is to be the case, Brown accepts his side will have to soak up plenty of pressure in a game where they are expected to be on the back foot from kick-off.

"Certain managers are hell-bent on a certain system but we were quite flexible last year and I need that mentality again," he added.

"You're playing Chelsea one week and Bolton the next and, with no disrespect to either, there will be a difference in your tactics.

"At Chelsea we will spend long periods without the ball and I need players who understand that. First and foremost we'll need players who work hard to win the ball back for the team and then keep it."

Brown, who has added Stephen Hunt, Seyi Olofinjana, Jozy Altidore and Kamel Ghilas to his squad in the close season, also revealed he does not intend to rely on the new additions to spur his side on this year.

Instead, the former Derby chief believes it is his job to keep the Tigers' resolve strong.

Brown said: "I was at a Premier League managers' meeting last week and it's nice to look around and see the top guys, see the whites of their eyes and how hungry they are.

"If you're not as hungry as they are, then forget about it. You can bring all the good players in but you have to retain that hunger to compete at the highest level and stay in the Premier League."

Hunt, who completed his switch from Reading on Thursday, is ready for a debut but is anticipating hostility from the Blues fans, who remember him for his part in Petr Cech's skull fracture in 2006.

"That's history," said Hunt.

"I've been there twice since it happened and I'll probably be expecting (a hostile reception) but I don't mind.

"The important thing is to go and get something from the game. There's no point in going and giving a good account of ourselves and losing, it's about picking up points."

Wenger rules out Fabregas sale

Arsene Wenger insists there is "no chance" of Cesc Fabregas being sold to Barcelona - and maintains his young Arsenal team can compete with the best this season.

The Gunners captain has once again been strongly linked with a big-money summer move away from Emirates Stadium - his boyhood club Barcelona the latest side said to be weighing up a formal bid.

However, with Arsenal about to embark on what could well be a defining campaign in the quest for a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Wenger insists all such speculation is wide of the mark.

"Do you really think we sell now our players one day before the championship starts, players who are basic players of the team? There is no chance," declared the Gunners boss, who takes his side to Everton for the opening match of the season tomorrow.

"You cannot stop people from having a lot of creative imagination during their sleepless nights, but that does not mean we will do it."

Wenger himself has resisted the lures of some of Europe's top clubs to remain faithful to Arsenal, whom he has transformed since arriving some 13 seasons ago.

"I believe that in life you are committed to clubs with contracts and in no contract is the colour of your blood described," he said, referring to the pull a return to Spain would have on Fabregas.

"I am more committed than ever to my club, not only this season, but since I have arrived here.

"We are the beginning of a new season now, and it is important that everybody focuses - me, Fabregas everybody else, just on being successful for the club we love, and the best way we can do that is to do well."

Despite the sale of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Kolo Toure to Manchester City, Wenger maintains his squad is stronger than this time last year.

So far, Belgian centre-half Thomas Vermaelen is the only new face, although the return to full fitness of Croatia marksman Eduardo leaves Wenger feeling there is plenty of strength in attack.

"We are young and have developed. Why should we not be better in August than we were in March?" said the Arsenal manager, who will be without Walcott tomorrow, but hopes the England forward could be back for the Champions League qualifier against Celtic next week.

"We lost two great players. However, we have bought Vermaelen to replace Kolo and we have Eduardo back, who for me is a great player.

"We have players who develop very well and are young, like [Carlos] Vela, [Nicklas] Bendtner, Walcott, who are all strikers, so I do not feel we are short in these positions."

Wenger insists his squad can deliver come May.

"The ambition is to finish as high as possible. What is as high as possible is to finish first, it is as simple as that," he said.

"The competition is of a high level and many aspire to that, so let's continue to play the game the way we want to play it and I believe we can show that we have made big steps forward."

Wenger maintains Arsenal are no further forward in any potential transfer deals, which have included a look at bringing former captain Patrick Vieira back as well as Bordeaux's £12million-rated Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh and Fulham defender Brede Hangeland, or indeed over a proposed move away for Philippe Senderos to Everton.

"I have all the players in place," said the Arsenal manager.

"If we need to add one or two more, the transfer period is open until August 31.

"Ideally you want not to move any more, but you always have to adjust. If there is a need there, we will do it."

Wenger added: "There are still a lot of players who want to come to Arsenal, because they like the way we play and develop them.

"They feel they get access to top level competition, so I do not think we have a [financial] handicap.

"The market now is a world market, so you can always find good players.

"There are only a few players who have a price which we cannot reach - maybe 10 in the world, but for the rest, we have access to the market."

Pellegrini: Higuain and Robben to stay

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has dispelled the exit rumours of Gonzalo Higuain and Arjen Robben.

The two players have impressed the Los Blancos boss with their strong performances for the friendlies, with Pellegrini stating that Higuain "was never to be transferred".

Robben's future also seems to be secure at the Bernabeu, as the coach confirms that no player is on the transfer list.

The Dutch winger, who rejected a move to Tottenham Hotspur, has also declared his desire to stay.

With a team swelling with superstars, players are definitely expected to be uneasy.

"We have improved game after game but there is still a lot of work to do to be ready for the beginning of the season," Pellegrini said.

Though the ‘Neo-Galacticos' are still a work in progress, the Chilean is nonethless pleased with their growth.

Pennetta ousts Sharapova in LA

Maria Sharapova was dumped out of the WTA LA Women's Tennis Championships by Flavia Pennetta in the semi-finals on Saturday night.

The 10th-seeded Italian saw off the Russian, who recently returned to action following 10 months on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, 6-2 4-6 6-3 to earn a final date with Samantha Stosur at the Los Angeles event.

Australian doubles specialist Stosur remains on course for a maiden singles title after storming into the final earlier on Saturday.

The 25-year-old, seeded 13, was far too strong for Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea and ran out a convincing 6-3 6-2 winner against the Romanian in just over an hour.

Fergie: Go get me goals Rooney

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Wayne Rooney to fill the goalscoring void left by former Manchester United ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, who joined Real Madrid's Galactico gravy train earlier this summer for a world record £80 million, lead the line for United in spectacular fashion throughout his stay at Old Trafford.

The Portugal international scored 117 times in 289 appearances for the Red Devils, and was the club's leading marksman for the past three seasons - finding the net on 66 occasions compared to Rooney's 38 during the same period.

Despite the statistical disparity, Ferguson is convinced that Rooney, who will play as an out and out centre-forward during the forthcoming campaign, can step up to the mark.

"I don't think the responsibility of getting more goals will trouble Wayne at all," Ferguson told reporters ahead of Sunday's Community Shield clash with Chelsea at Wembley.

"He's got the mental strength for all that kind of thing. He's proved that time and time again.

"He will be used as a central striker this season. He goes on these bursts of goals.

"Last season I think he hit seven in a row at one point - but if he can do that more consistently over the season he will get to 25 and above.

"But Wayne is a totally different type of player to Ronaldo.

"I don't think you can compare them, they are such different types."

Rooney, 23, has admitted that he is fully aware of the pressure set to placed upon his ever maturing shoulders.

The England international is however adamant that he is aiming to make this season one to remember, especially with the added incentive of a World Cup finals adventure next year.

"For me personally, next season could be the season that transforms me from someone who could be a great player into someone who is a great player," he told The Times newspaper.

"That's what I'm hoping. It's a massive season for the club and for me personally, with the prize at the end of it being the World Cup.

"It's a season which I want to grab with both hands."

With such a pivotal season looming large on the horizon, Rooney, whose robust approach to the beautiful game has periodically landed him in hot water, is also determined to continue giving his all for club and country, even if things don't always go according to plan.

"The older you get, the more you try to set a good example rather than a bad example," he explained.

"On the pitch I'm a competitor and when you're playing in the biggest league in the world, especially when I was starting at such a young age, there are a lot of emotions.

"I've worked on that. Sometimes I get a booking or do something and it's all over the papers or on the news or whatever. I see other players doing ten times worse and nothing is mentioned. But I understand it.

"That's the way I've been brought up. I've been brought up to try to do the best I can in everything I do.

"I don't think I've ever come off the pitch and thought that I hadn't done the best I could have done. Sometimes it goes to plan and sometimes it doesn't, but I've never come off the pitch thinking I didn't give my best and I don't think I ever will."

United's defence of their Barclays Premier League campaign will get underway next Sunday when they entertain Alex McLeish's newly promoted Birmingham City at Old Trafford.