Madrid attack Chelsea conduct

NEWS ROUND-UP: REAL MADRID have criticised Chelsea for their conduct during the ongoing Robinho transfer saga. The Brazilian forward has been the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea all summer.

The 24-year-old took the unusual step of calling a press conference yesterday morning when he reiterated his desire to leave the Spanish champions for Stamford Bridge.

Robinho spoke for seven minutes at the press conference in which he hit out at coach Bernd Schuster for denying him the chance to move to Chelea, and said he had his heart set on joining Luiz Felipe Scolari's team.

"The president and Pedja (Real's football director Predrag Mijatovic) are allowing me to go, the club is in agreement with me, but not Schuster because he has promised to retain me. If he thinks this, it's his problem, I don't want to continue at Real Madrid."

A Real Madrid statement criticised Robinho for calling the impromptu press conference with Madrid's opening match of the season due to take place against Deportivo La Coruna.

"Just before an important official match, Real Madrid believe that all their attention should be focused on themselves, something that has been totally ignored by the player Robinho, who made his declarations just a few hours before the start of the encounter," the statement said.

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo believes he could be playing again by the end of September. The Portuguese underwent ankle surgery in July and initial forecasts were that he could be out of action until late October and possibly November. But Ronaldo has been told to step up his rehabilitation after making better-than-expected progress.

Bolton yesterday confirmed the signing of Poland international Ebi Smolarek on a season-long loan from La Liga side Racing Santander.

England coach Fabio Capello has sprung a major surprise by including Jimmy Bullard in his squad to face Andorra and Croatia for the World Cup qualifiers which get under way next weekend.

ENGLAND SQUAD(for World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia on September 6th and September 10th): Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).

LEAGUE CUP THIRD ROUND: (Ties to be played week commencing 22nd September). Arsenal v Sheff Utd, Brighton/Man City v Derby, Burnley v Fulham, Portsmouth v Chelsea, Blackburn v Everton, Rotherham v Southampton, Swansea v Cardiff, Ipswich v Wigan, Stoke v Reading, Leeds v Hartlepool, Watford v West Ham, Man Utd v Middlesbrough, Liverpool v Crewe, Aston Villa v QPR, Sunderland v Northampton, Newcastle v Tottenham.