The Citizens ex-player rubbished suggestions that Pep Guardiola’s side is in crisis following their Champions League triumph last night.
Manchester City ex-player Micah Richards has laughed off suggestions that the Etihad side is in “crisis” after Pep Guardiola’s charges ran out 3-0 winners over Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League opener (BBC Sport).
The Citizens fell to a shock 3-2 defeat at the hands of Norwich City at the weekend, prompting questions of their injury-enforced centre-back pairing of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones, and just days later, the latter was also sidelined due to a muscle injury.
With just one fit centre-back in Otamendi, there has been talk amongst some quarters of the reigning Premier League champions being in crisis, but Fernandinho was drafted into defence by Guardiola and put in a confident display in the back four as the team rattled in three goals without reply in Ukraine.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live, Richards suggested that Fernandinho’s presence in the back line could “work even better for them” as they can play out from the back, but did urge caution in that Man City will take on tougher opponents than Donetsk further down the line.
“Crisis? What crisis? The boys did well tonight,” he said. “City are going to have the ball the majority of the time so in this system, with Fernandinho back there, it could work even better for them, playing out from the back. But City will get tested by a better team further on down the line.”
Up next for Man City is a return to the Etihad to face Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, while next week brings two relatively near away days in Preston North End in the Carabao Cup third round and Everton at Goodison Park in the league.
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