Manchester City v Cardiff City: Micah Richards is savouring the good times having experienced the bad as City approach 100 goals

Richards was part of the side that went eight matches without scoring back in 2007 and admits he can't believe his eyes when he looks around at his teammates

Martyn Ziegler
Friday 17 January 2014 09:23 GMT
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Micah Richards admits he is savouring the good times having gone through the bad in 2007 when Manchester City didn't score in eight matches
Micah Richards admits he is savouring the good times having gone through the bad in 2007 when Manchester City didn't score in eight matches (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City are odds-on to make it a remarkable 100 goals this season when they face Cardiff on Saturday as the relentless march of Manuel Pellegrini's men continues in all four competitions.

City have scored 99 goals so far this season in all competitions and even more worrying for their rivals, the expensively-assembled squad now has Sergio Aguero back from a calf injury and Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic pushing for a place.

City continued their hot streak with a 5-0 demolition of Blackburn in the FA Cup, the 11th time this season they have scored four goals or more in a match.

Defender Micah Richards admits it is in stark contrast to his early days at the club where in 2007 they failed to score in their last eight league games of the season at home.

Richards, 25, said: "That was under Stuart Pearce. We didn't score for something like five months here. It was ridiculous! How times have changed.

"You savour these good times all the more because of back then. For me, every day I come in and I see the players I'm playing with and you compare them to the players I was playing with seven years ago and they're all internationals now. It's a different kettle of fish."

Jovetic will find his work cut out to force his way into the team with Aguero, Negredo and Edin Dzeko scoring almost at will, but Richards has seen flashes of quality in the Montenegrin to suggest he can make an impact.

He said: "It's going to be hard for him to get into this team, but I'm sure he will be working hard and doing everything he can.

"I've trained with him. I think if you saw him in the AC Milan game pre-season, I know it was only pre-season, but it was against good opposition and he ripped them to shreds with his movement, skill and touch.

"But I think the strikers have got everything. Sergio has pace and power. Edin is a good finisher and good in the air. Negredo runs around like a man possessed and is a great finisher. Jovetic has skill and technique.

"They've all got something, some sort of gift to bring to the team and it just seems to be clicking at the moment. If we want to win the league, if we want to win trophies, they are going to be key.

"Last season it was more about defenders doing well. I think this season it is more about the attackers and that's why we look so good."

PA

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