England defender refuses to blame Mancini.
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Manchester City defender Micah Richards has refused to blame former boss Roberto Mancini for the club’s failure to win a trophy last season, but has admitted that the standards have been raised since Manuel Pellegrini has arrived, the Daily Mail reports.
Richards made just eight appearances last season under the fiery Italian, thanks largely to numerous fitness issues and he has backed Pellegrini to bring the players together, which was something he predecessor couldn’t quite master.
“I don’t want to say Mancini wasn’t good,” Richards told the Manchester Evening News.
“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 and how they’re feeling.
“It’s still early yet. But I think Pellegrini so far has been good.
“However, we’ll wait till the end of the season and hopefully we’ll be picking up that trophy. That’s when he will be judged.”
Richards has said that there is a renewed spirit amongst the squad during the pre season and thinks that will stand them in good stead as they prepare to steal the title back from Neighbours United.
“The manager has come and the whole team looks a bit more refreshed and we’re raring to go,” he said.
“I think we’re missing a little bit of luck last season. We will be all right if we keep everyone fit and keep the squad happy. If that happens, we’ll be challenging again.”