Micah Richards disagrees with Raheem Sterling’s comments that next season has next season has already started for Manchester City.
The England international made the comment prior to City’s game at Southampton last weekend, having beaten newly-crowned champions Liverpool 4-0 in their previous game.
Their trip to the south coast though saw them fall to a 1-0 defeat – their ninth Premier League loss of the season.
Pep Guardiola’s men have since gone on to beat Newcastle United 5-0 as they hit their top form once again on Wednesday, with Sterling’s comment suggesting the players have already started looking towards next season and challenging Liverpool again for the title.
Former City defender Richards though feels Sterling was wrong in making his comments.
Speaking ahead of the clash with Brighton on Sky Sports, Richards said: “I didn’t really agree with the comment, if I’m being totally honest, because we’ve had all season to start.
“In fairness to that game (Southampton loss), they had over 70 per cent possession, and deserved to win that game. But Southampton, in fairness, they did well.
“With City, what is so frustrating at times, for me, it’s all nice, it works well, it’s great on the eye, but they do give teams opportunities to counter-attack.
“I think that’s where the gap of 24 points, if they want to challenge again next season, like the old City we knew, getting record points, they’re going to have to sort out the basics in the way they set up, in terms of nullifying the teams’ counter-attacks.”
Richards added: " They’ve just got so much quality in the team. Foden has been brilliant and Kevin De Bruyne is just something else.
"He’s just raised the bar. To keep doing it with a good intensity and good performances.
"We mentioned Southampton, they just switch off from time to time. I’d love to see City push on and go and be the very best they can be of what we’ve seen from the past two seasons."
