ohwhenthespurs
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- Jan 3, 2009
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Manchester City defender Micah Richards admits speculation about his future has been distracting but insists he is focused on the challenge ahead of him this season.
The 22-year-old has suffered a loss of form over the last couple of years and with all the comings and goings at Eastlands his future was cast into doubt.
Richards finds himself under pressure from Pablo Zabaleta and new signing Jerome Boateng but he is ready to fight for his place.
"There have been lots of things said and written about my future at City this summer," he said.
"But I think from the effort I have put in during training and in the pre-season games that it is evident to everyone that I want to stay at City.
"It does affect your concentration when you are consistently linked with a move away or people are talking about you being replaced – especially as I have been here for so long.
"Sometimes you get a bit down when these things are constantly being said and I play best when I am happy and confident which I am at the moment."
Richards and Boateng swapped between centre-back and right-back in Saturday’s friendly against Valencia as manager Roberto Mancini looks to get every position covered.
"The boss wanted Jerome to play in both positions and I think he did well in each of them," the England defender told mcfc.co.uk.
"He can play happily in both so I can see a battle ahead and I am well up for the challenge."
Striker Carlos Tevez has his sights on an even bigger battle – the one for the Barclays Premier League title.
Despite having so far failed to qualify for the Champions League, finishing fifth in May, the Argentina international thinks City are now in a position to take a giant leap forward.
Mancini has invested £75million in the squad this summer, bringing in Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov, and is still pursuing Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.
As a result Tevez expects this season’s championship battle to be a five-way race between the established ’big four’ of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool plus City.
"I can say for certain that the winner will be one of these teams," the former Manchester United and West Ham forward told ZOO magazine.
"Our aim should be to improve bit by bit, but we know we must fight for the title.
"The same teams will be there and even though we have brought in new players, other clubs will match us.
"We are right up there with them. We have strengthened and we are stronger.
"There is no great difference between all the top teams now.
"We’ll see whether we are good enough. I hope we improve on last season and can challenge for the title right to the end. That’s what we want.
"But the first challenge is to qualify for the Champions League. I hope it won’t escape us this time.
"Five years is a long way off, but I think we will have won the league title by that time."
The 22-year-old has suffered a loss of form over the last couple of years and with all the comings and goings at Eastlands his future was cast into doubt.
Richards finds himself under pressure from Pablo Zabaleta and new signing Jerome Boateng but he is ready to fight for his place.
"There have been lots of things said and written about my future at City this summer," he said.
"But I think from the effort I have put in during training and in the pre-season games that it is evident to everyone that I want to stay at City.
"It does affect your concentration when you are consistently linked with a move away or people are talking about you being replaced – especially as I have been here for so long.
"Sometimes you get a bit down when these things are constantly being said and I play best when I am happy and confident which I am at the moment."
Richards and Boateng swapped between centre-back and right-back in Saturday’s friendly against Valencia as manager Roberto Mancini looks to get every position covered.
"The boss wanted Jerome to play in both positions and I think he did well in each of them," the England defender told mcfc.co.uk.
"He can play happily in both so I can see a battle ahead and I am well up for the challenge."
Striker Carlos Tevez has his sights on an even bigger battle – the one for the Barclays Premier League title.
Despite having so far failed to qualify for the Champions League, finishing fifth in May, the Argentina international thinks City are now in a position to take a giant leap forward.
Mancini has invested £75million in the squad this summer, bringing in Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov, and is still pursuing Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.
As a result Tevez expects this season’s championship battle to be a five-way race between the established ’big four’ of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool plus City.
"I can say for certain that the winner will be one of these teams," the former Manchester United and West Ham forward told ZOO magazine.
"Our aim should be to improve bit by bit, but we know we must fight for the title.
"The same teams will be there and even though we have brought in new players, other clubs will match us.
"We are right up there with them. We have strengthened and we are stronger.
"There is no great difference between all the top teams now.
"We’ll see whether we are good enough. I hope we improve on last season and can challenge for the title right to the end. That’s what we want.
"But the first challenge is to qualify for the Champions League. I hope it won’t escape us this time.
"Five years is a long way off, but I think we will have won the league title by that time."
