When United pulled clear of City I wanted to cry... Richards reveals torment

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2012 by Dailymail

'I don't want to disrespect them as they have outstanding players and a great team spirit that has carried them a long way this season. But we had the best start in Premier League history and to be several points behind now is a bit gutting. If I'm honest, it just hurts.

When United pulled clear of City I wanted to cry... Richards reveals torment

'For seven months we have been on top of the league playing good football but now, when it really matters, we have for some reason taken the foot off the gas. When United don't play well they seem to get results. When we don't play well, we get beaten. That's the difference. Man United - no matter who are playing for them - just know that they have to get the job done. They are willing to do anything.

'With us, it's like, "Oh . . . we have dropped some points but we will be OK in the next game". It's not the case. If you want to win the league, every single game you have to be on it. We all know how to play football but we have to approach every game as if it's vital. I won't give up on the title until we can't win it.'

Richards was born in Leeds but he understands his adopted city well. His assessment of the standing of its two football clubs is unerringly accurate. By his own admission, it seems a long time since City went to Old Trafford last October and won 6-1.

'Fergie . . . ,' said Richards, pausing. 'He's gotta be one of the best managers that I've come across because, if we had got beaten 6-1 that day, United would have been 20 points clear by now.

'We have a good mentality. We have shown that many times. But the way they came back from the 6-1 is phenomenal. That's down to the manager.'

It was on November 15, 2006, that Richards made his England debut against Holland. Manager
Steve McClaren called him 'part of the new breed' while the late Sir Bobby Robson talked of him in the same breath as Bobby Moore. How odd, then, that he has just 13 caps.

'I got over-hyped,' said Richards. 'It was too soon. I wasn't half the player then I am now. I was just on adrenaline back then, a young lad throwing myself in there. My crossing was poor and so was my positioning.'

Richards has heard the criticism of his game. Capello said he attacked too much. It is clear that Capello's rather derisory view of Richards hurt a little. Why wouldn't it?

'Had McClaren been still in charge, I would have had 60 caps by now,' said Richards. 'McClaren believed in me and Capello believed in people like (Phil) Jones and (Chris) Smalling. That's the way it was and that's fair enough. They are great players.

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