Manchester City defender Micah Richards is expected to get more first-team opportunities after the arrival of new manager Manuel Pellegrini. He was not exactly a favourite of former manager Roberto Mancini.
The club failed to win any major trophy last season, while they have lifted only the Premier league and FA Cup in the last two years. As a result, many see the time of Mancini at Manchester City as a mediocre success because he spent a huge amount of money on players. Pellegrini has also brought in four players in different areas of the pitch for a combined outlay of £ 90 million.
This is an extremely important season for Richards because he has to get back into the first-team in order to be sure of a chance at the 2014 World Cup with the England team. He missed almost the entire last season due to several problems. Injuries and competition from Pablo Zabaleta has proven extremely difficult for the England international to handle. Richards faces a tough time in getting back the right back spot from Zabaleta, who won the club’s Player of the Year last season. Despite Zabaleta’s presence, Richards is hoping to be in the team on a regular basis.
He thinks that the club will be involved in a number of matches in the coming season to keep him happy.
“I don’t want to say Mancini wasn’t good. I spoke to him and got on fine with him. But I think Pellegrini will go the extra yard to make sure players are all right. It’s still early yet. But I think Pellegrini so far has been good. However, we will wait until the end of the season and, hopefully, we will be picking up that trophy. That’s when the boss will be judged. I can play centre–back and I can play right–back. Pablo can play left–back or right–back as well as midfield,” said Richards.
