Micah Richards: ‘We Have Got the Last Laugh’

Last season’s FA Cup triumph saw Manchester City’s 35-year silverware drought finally come to an end.

More importantly, the “noisy neighbours” forced Manchester United to remove the banner that hung from the Stretford End at Old Trafford which displayed the numbers of years since City won a trophy.

Micah Richards is the latest Manchester City player to speak to the media about the upcoming derby match versus bitter rivals Manchester United.

It’s safe to say that Richards is not camera-shy.

 “United now know, much as they won’t say it, that we are a genuine threat to them,” said the 23-year-old England defender.

“To get that banner down is quality – we have got the last laugh.

“We are not going out and saying we will win this game or that game, but they call us the noisy neighbours. I think they’re a bit frightened.”

Richards may in fact be right that United are frightened by the freakishly talented City squad, but I’m pretty sure the Red Devils had the last laugh.

The day was 7 August 2011; the location, Wembley Stadium, London, England. United came back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to win the FA Community Shield (2011 FA Community Shield) in front of 77,169 witnesses by a score of 3-2.

Surely that was the last laugh. Well, at least until this Sunday’s clash.

“The last four derbies have not been that ferocious really, three or four years ago it was ridiculous, some of the tackling,” added Richards.

“I’d like to see that again, that ferocity, as it makes it more special. We all like to see nice football, but everyone loves a good tackle.

“It’s harder these days, as if you tackle someone hard you get questioned. I preferred those ferocious derbies – if it’s a foul obviously the referee has to pull it up, but with those 50-50 challenges he should just let the game flow.

“It used to be the case that we went to United and got battered every time but in the last year or two we have gone to United and sometimes looked the better team, on their own patch, so it shows how far we have come in a short space of time.

“We have improved a lot and want the ball down to play – in those days it was about getting 11 men behind the ball and defending, and if we got a chance we had to take it. That’s what we did.

“If you speak to Mancini he wants to go there and win. People talked about us last season being boring and negative, but if you watch us now we are completely the opposite.”

I’d lay good odds on Richards getting a booking after that speech. The referees will surely be on high alert. Let’s just hope for an intense, but clean game of football.