Former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards says that Liverpool are the only team capable of stopping Manchester City from claiming a third consecutive Premier League title.
City edged out Liverpool by a solitary point to clinch a third title in six years last season. Liverpool currently top the table with 12 points with City two points further back after four games of the 2019/20 season.
"To win the Premier League is always difficult but I can't see City being challenged by any team other than Liverpool," Richards told The National at Yas Marina Circuit on Thursday.
“Spurs [Tottenham] have weakened a little bit while Chelsea and Manchester United are going through transition periods. I see it as a two-horse race to be honest.”
Richards has a long connection with City, having spent 14 years on the clubs books as both a youth team and senior player from 2001.
Now a club ambassador, Richards is in the capital as part of the Manchester City's global Trophy Tour parading the trophies won by the men's and women's team's last season at locations across the city. Pep Guardiola's men's team made history last term with a clean sweep of domestic trophies, securing the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield, while the women's team won the Women’s FA Cup and the FA WSL Continental Cup.
Richards made his City debut as a 17-year-old in 2005 and was one of those to see first hand the transformation in the club's fortunes following Abu Dhabi United Group’s (ADUG) takeover in 2008.
"We were hoping for a takeover because the team had got a little bit stale," Richards said.
“As players we get to know of the takeover the last, but when we heard it some players were happy and some probably not because they knew they would be replaced by better players. It was a mixed feeling but what it had done to the club has been amazing. Not only to the club but for the city itself, creating more employment opportunities.”
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Manchester City's class of 2008
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Joe Hart, had to make way for January signing Shay Given and was then loaned out to Birmingham but returned to become a key member of the 2012 and 2014 Premier League-winning teams. Joined Burnley this summer after loan spells at Torino and West Ham -
Manchester City's Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta (R) Whole-hearted right-back who signed for City a day before the takeover and became a mainstay of the side and fan favourite. Featured in two title successes before joining West Ham in 2017. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Michah Richards (R) The City academy graduate was once one of the most exciting young defenders in the country. He shone in the 2012 title win but his career has since stalled due to injuries. Now at Aston Villa but has not made a first-team appearance in almost two years. AFP PHOTO -
Richard Dunne The Republic of Ireland international was captain and bedrock of the defence at the time of the takeover but left for Villa the following year. Now a TV pundit after ending his career at QPR. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Michael Ball (R) Former Everton left-back who joined City in 2007 after spells with Rangers and PSV Eindhoven. Lost his place due to injury and the signing of Wayne Bridge and was released in the summer of 2009. Had a brief spell at Leicester in 2011. Now working as a consultant for a football agency advising youth players. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's English Midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips, The former England winger rejoined City for his second spell just before the takeover. He left for QPR in 2011 and has since played in the United States with New York Red Bulls and Phoenix Rising FC. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's German midfielder Dietmar Hamann (L) The former Liverpool midfielder left City in 2009 and retired two years later after a spell at MK Dons, where he then took up a coaching post. Also worked at Leicester before managing Stockport. Now a media pundit. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Belgian Midfielder Vincent Kompany, Began as a midfielder but went on to become the cornerstone of the defence and an inspirational captain, lifting all three of City's Premier League titles. Has just celebrated his own 10th anniversary at the club. Injuries have been a problem in recent years but he continues to play at a high standard. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Stephen Ireland (L) Another of City's bright young hopes who excelled in that 2008-09 season, combining particularly well with Robinho. Squeezed out as new signings came in and moved to Villa in 2010. Spent the last four seasons at Stoke but was released in the summer. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Brazilian forward Robinho, The initial headline-grabbing signing of the new owners, the Brazilian dubbed the 'new Pele' in his youth joined City from Real Madrid in a blaze of publicity. The Chelsea game was also his debut and he marked it with a goal. Initial returns were good but form and fitness fell away in his second season and he moved on. Now playing for Turkish club Sivasspor. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Brazilian Striker Jo (L) The Brazilian joined City for a then club-record £18million months before the takeover but his talent was seen only sporadically and he was loaned out to Everton the following year. He has since played in Brazil, Turkey, China and the UAE and is now at Japanese club Grampus Eight. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's keeper Kasper Schmeichel, Never established himself at City and moved down the divisions, first on a series of loans, before joining Notts County and then Leeds. He eventually returned to the top flight with Leicester, where he starred in their remarkable Premier League triumph of 2016. Also the Denmark number one. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's English forward Daniel Sturridge (2nd R) Joined Chelsea in 2009 and moved to Liverpool four years later. Now hoping to re-establish himself after falling down the pecking order at Anfield due to injuries and the evolution of the team under Jurgen Klopp. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes (L) Switzerland international who left City in 2009 and now at Eintracht Frankfurt after a busy career involving stints at St Etienne, Chievo, Leicester, Udinese, Sporting Lisbon, Sion, Freiburg and Rennes. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Welsh Striker Ched Evans (R) Served a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence following a rape conviction that was subsequently quashed. Now at Fleetwood after previously playing for Sheffield United. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Spanish Defender Javier Garrido (L) The Spanish left-back struggled for game time after the takeover and joined Lazio in 2010. Later returned to England with Norwich. Had further spells at Las Palmas and in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca. Was linked with Nottingham Forest and Leeds last season. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Brazilian forward Elano (L) The creative Brazilian proved a hit at City but the 2008-09 campaign was his second and last at the club before he was sold to Galatasaray. Later had two more stints with first club Santos and also played in India before retiring in 2016. AFP PHOTO -
Manchester City's Tal Ben Haim (R) The former Bolton defender featured little at City and was loaned out to Sunderland midway through his only season at the club. Played for several clubs since, including Portsmouth, West Ham, QPR and Charlton. Now back in his native Israel with Beitar Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO
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City’s first game after the takeover ended in a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on September 13, 2008.
“That wasn’t the ideal start for the new owners but we knew we would get better as the season went on,” Richards said.
“We had a good team then but now we have become a great team. We knew it would be difficult to win games straightaway because Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool were ahead of us at that time. We gave a good fight and got better every season.”
Richards was part of the squad which won the Premier League for the first time under the stewardship of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs in what is widely regarded as the most thrilling climax to any season.
With city rivals Manchester United having beaten Sunderland in their final game of the 2011/12 campaign, City looked set to miss out as they trailed Queens Park Rangers 2-1 in their final game as the match entered injury time.
Edin Dzeko equalised before Sergio Aguero scored the winning goal with virtually the last kick of the season to clinch City's first top-flight tile for 44 years. “It was an unbelievable day. It still swivels down the spine, when you think of it," Richards recalled.
City won their first silverware under the ADUG banner the previous season, when Richards was in the side that beat Stoke City to win the the FA Cup. Richards said there was a lot of pressure on the players to deliver a first trophy for the owners.
“It was amazing to win the first silverware for the United Group,” he said. "The game was only 1-0. We didn’t play a great game but at the end of the day we won the cup, that’s what mattered most.
“It was such an emotional day with fans in the stand crying and stuff like that. It was first of many.”
Robinho become the first marque signing of the Abu Dhabi era, with this week marking the 10-year anniversary of the Brazilian joining for a then club record of £32.5 million (Dh147m).
“We couldn’t believe he was coming from Real Madrid,” said Richards. “It was massive for him, but that put us as players to acknowledge we are in real business. It was a very good moment.”
