Roque Santa Cruz vows to shoot Manchester City toward Europe
Published 00:00 02/07/09 By By David McDonnell
Roque Santa Cruz has assured Manchester City fans that he is not a £17million gamble and vowed to repay new boss Mark Hughes' faith in him.
Santa Cruz, officially unveiled as a City player yesterday, has not played since March 4 and has been sidelined since undergoing a knee operation in April. The 27-year-old former Blackburn striker has a history of knee injuries but claims he is now fit and ready to help City push for a Champions League spot.
"I am training and working out every day to be fit for the start of the season," said Santa Cruz.
"I had a feeling when I was playing that I had some loose bone in my knee. It wasn't causing me any trouble but I knew I would need to have an operation at some point and that I needed to rest for six weeks, so I had the operation in April.
"There was no point waiting any longer, because I would have done long-term damage to my knee if I had carried on playing."
Santa Cruz is relishing the chance to help City break into the top four and take the club into the Champions League for the first time.
"It's that pressure and expectation I want," he said. "When I was at Bayern Munich we had that kind of pressure in every game.
"That's what we will find this season at City too. With the players we've got the challenge will be to get in the top four. I know how Mark works and I'm sure that Champions League football will be our aim."
Hughes, who landed Santa Cruz at the fourth attempt and having worked with him at Blackburn, said: "Roque's mentality will add to the squad.
"We need leaders in the dressing room who understand what it's like to be at a big club. Roque wanted to join us because he sees our ambition for the club. To get him here is a great relief.
"Last year there were too many occasions when we lacked the qualities he brings.
"He can help us address issues we had about being able to change our play and having a plan B."
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