Richards: Man City must beat the best to win Champions League

Manchester City defender Micah Richards says the Citizens will have to beat Europe's best teams to win the Champions League

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By TSR staff Thursday 13 September 2012, 17:49 UK

Roberto Mancini's side take on Real Madrid next Tuesday

roberto mancini

Micah Richards admits Manchester City will have to beat the best teams in Europe if they want to win the Champions League this season.

The Eastlands outfit were drawn in the same group as La Liga champions Real Madrid, back-to-back Eredivisie winners Ajax and Bundesliga holders Borussia Dortmund.

However, Richards is not fazed by the challenge of facing three of the competition’s best sides in the group stage, insisting the Citizens can call on their experience from last season.

“When I saw Real Madrid come out I thought it was great that we had such a good team to go to,” Richards told City’s website.

“But then when Dortmund and Ajax came out I thought, wow!

“Obviously though, if you want to win the Champions League, you have to play the best teams anyway.

“I think last season we didn’t play too well in the competition and we had a tough group, but I think this year we have a harder group, I think we’ve learned a lot from last time though.

“We know there’s a lot more tactics involved in Champions League football and we have to be a bit more cute.

“But I think we’re ready for it and we’ve certainly got the players to go and show everyone that we are a Champions League side and I think this season people will see that.”

Richards is currently recovering from an ankle injury picked up while representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

But the England international is still looking forward to watching his team-mates play at the Bernabéu on Tuesday.

“Madrid away is going to be massive; I’ve never played at that stadium,” he said,” he added.

“Obviously I’m not going to be able to play because of my injury, but I’ll still probably go down with the boys and take in the atmosphere.

“To play against players like Ronaldo and Benzema – it’s going to be good to watch and hopefully we can get something there and hopefully I’ll be involved in some of the other games.”