Robert moans again?

Last updated : 14 December 2002 By Martyn Elliott

As ever the remarks shouldn’t necessarily be taken to be Robert’s as the tabloids have a long track record of wrongly translating or conveniently editing his interviews from the French press.

"We could have come away with a good result but we did not know how to plan out our game. I don't know why. Maybe there was too much pressure on us," he is reported to have said.

"We let in another early goal, which was quite unbelievable. We have been aware of this problem for quite some time but we can't find the answers to it.

"The infuriating thing is Barcelona needed a result at all costs to calm their fans and all the pressure was on them.

"It wasn't a specially nice game for me but I received very little service as once again our play was channelled down the right flank.

"One thing is certain - we are not going to make progress if we play in this way."

If these comments are genuine Robert is a disgrace, he was by far the poorest performer on Wednesday night and I can’t remember anyone else kicking the ball high into the crowd repeatedly in the Nou Camp.

Meanwhile Sir Bobby has described his frustration in trying to get the best out of the Frenchman.

"When you play him, sometimes you wish you had not. And when you don't play him, you wish you had," Sir Bobby told the Sun.

"He can be great going forward but, even then, I want him to run at his opponents more.

"However, defensively, he can be so frustrating. He should take a leaf out of Barcelona winger Marc Overmars' book. The Dutchman plays his football at both ends of the pitch.

"You have to remember he was involved in 29 of our goals last season and everyone knows he can be amazingly productive.

"But the best thing I did when Nol Solano was not playing as I knew he could - and his standards had dropped - was to leave him out.

"It did him good because, when he came back in, he looked more like himself. Maybe that is what I have to consider with Laurent."

Certainly a return to full form for Robert would help us see off some of the lesser opponents we’ve struggled past so far this season.