Micah Richards has now revealed that he and Manuel Pellegrini clashed during his time at Manchester City.
The 35-year-old made the comment when speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast.
So, what did Micah Richards say about Manuel Pellegrini? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, the man from Birmingham never struck us as someone who kicked up a fuss in the dressing room, but that is exactly what he did after being subbed off for Pablo Zabaleta once upon a time.
Richards told Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer: “We were playing in the cup. I was basically coming back from injury, and we were playing against a lower league team. We were playing at the Etihad. In the first half, I’ve had a stinker. Absolute stinker, and we’re chasing the game. We’re losing the game.
“Pellegrini comes in at half time and says, Zabaleta for Micah Richards. So I lost my head. I said, it’s an absolute disgrace, you’ve got your favourites in the team. Blah blah blah. I’m effing and jeffing, I’m throwing things around, in front of everyone.
“After the game, he just blanked me, but he blanked me for about three weeks… he just wasn’t naming me in the squad. I had to go to his office and say, I’m sorry, can I get back in the squad… it was all my fault.”
Manchester City were eventually knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 to Wigan in the Quarter-Final.
Micah Richards vs Manuel Pellegrini happened during Manchester City 4-2 Watford
We have actually managed to find the game in question after doing a bit of research.
The match Richards is discussing appears to be the FA Cup Fourth Round win over Watford back in January 2014, which Manchester City won 4-2 despite going 2-0 down.
As shown on Transfermarkt, Pellegrini did in fact substitute Richards at the interval, while also bringing Jack Rodwell off for Vincent Kompany.
Clearly, the Chilean just wanted a bit more experience in his side on that day, and the 70-year-old had the last laugh as Manchester City ultimately progressed into the Fifth Round.
Richards – who praised John Stones after the Manchester derby – was then offloaded to Aston Villa in June 2015 after his contract was allowed to expire under Pellegrini’s management.
Perhaps that eventful clash in January 2014 played a part in that decision…
