Richards blasts Capello over England snub - Exclusive

Posted Saturday, November 13, 2010 by Mirrorfootbal

Micah Richards has accused Fabio Capello of not giving him a fair enough chance to prove himself with England.

Manchester City defender Richards became England's youngest-ever defender at 18 when he was handed his first international cap by Steve McClaren.

Richards seemed destined for a glittering England career but has been cast into the international wilderness by Capello, having never featured under the Italian.

He has been stuck on 11 England caps for the past three years, his last appearance for his country coming in McClaren's final game, the infamous 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembey, which cost England a place at Euro 2008.

And Richards, whose versatility at being able to play right-back and centre-back seemed destined to make him an England regular, admitted he was at a loss as to explain his continued omission by Capello.

"I haven't played a minute under him [Capello], so some might argue that I've not had a fair crack of the whip," said Richards. "But it's really all down to myself.

"I've always given 100 per cent. Maybe I can improve certain aspects of my game, but if he does give me a chance, I will take it.

"When he first came in, I was in a couple of the squads, but then a year passed without me being selected at all.

"It does irritate me when I saw the other lads here at City called up for England. I'm only human and I know how good a player I am and how good I can be, so it is frustrating to feel like I'm being held back.

"Over the last couple of seasons I let it play with my head too much. You could tell by my performances. I wasn't playing at my best, and I was thinking about it [England] and probably trying too hard.

"When six of your team-mates go away with England it's frustrating, because I used to be called up on a regular basis. I just need to block it out and deal with it."

Richards, speaking at the DVD launch of Blue Moon Rising, a film chronicling City's 2009=10 campaign, has also yet to convince City boss Roberto Mancini that he should be a regular starter for his club.

But Richards insisted he did not fit the cliche of a player having too much, too young, and allowing his success to go his head.

While he has been the subject of lurid tabloid headlines off the field, Richards, now 22, said he had always given his all for club and country, despite a perceived reputation as a wide boy, a player who had been seduced by the trappings of success.

"As soon as you do well, you get a high profile and people begin to say that it all happened too soon for you," said Richards.

"People look at me and think 'he's young and flashy' but on the training field I work my arse off and every manager will tell you the same.

"But if you look at the 11 games I played for England, I think I did well. Even the Croatia game, I think I didn't do too badly.

"When people say you got things too early, I don't agree with that. With England I've done well, so saying that is the easy way out.

"You know what's most frustrating? When Capello has been asked by the media why I wasn't playing, he said it was because I wasn't playing regularly for City.

"But last season I played about 45 games. Then I would see players who weren't playing for their clubs, like Wes Brown and Luke Young, getting into the squad.

"I just thought 'I'd rather him be honest and, if he doesn't think I'm good to enough, just tell me what I need to do to get in'.

"I want to be in the England team. I'm not one of those players who thinks getting money and playing for City is good enough.

"I want better than that. I know the ability I have and I know I can do better. I want to show people what I can do.

"I broke into the team as an 18-year-old and Steve McClaren loved me because he picked me every single time.

"This season I've been in the last couple of 30-man squads, but I haven't made the final 23, which has been disappointing.

"When you've played for senior team, it's hard to go back down to the Under-21s. A lot of players, without being rude, just toss it off.

"It's kind of hard not to do that, but you can get a bad name for yourself and people will just assume that you think you're too good for the Under-21s.

"I don't want that and every time I've played for Under-21s I've given 100 per cent. I'm the captain as well, so I enjoy it, but I do feel that I am ready for the step-up again."

Richards said he had not had any contact from Capello or his assistant, Franco Baldini, over where he stands in the eyes of the Englabd boss or what he needs to go to get back in the squad.

"I've not had any contact from Capello or Baldini," said Richards. "They probably see me as a young player who can develop and whose chance will come.

"But I believe I have enough to give now and it does get frustrating. I guess I just have to bide my time."