Source: SKY_Sports
Richards holds no fear
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Micah Richards believes derby rivals Manchester United lack the fear factor in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.[LNB] Manchester City travel to Old Trafford on Sunday intent on maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League campaign in a game which is being shown live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD1.[LNB]The champions sold their prize asset Ronaldo to Real Madrid, the only club to have spent more than City in the recent transfer window, in an £80million deal this summer.[LNB]Richards feels the omission of their former Portuguese talisman is a major plus for his side but insists they will focus on their own game.[LNB]"United have always lost big stars in the past and they always manage to replace them but Ronaldo not playing is a massive positive for us," he told the Manchester Evening News.[LNB]"Hopefully we won't be thinking about them, and concentrating on what we are going to do."[LNB]DoubleThe last two seasons has seen both sides inflict a double over each other as first City, under the guidance of Sven-Goran Eriksson, won back-to-back derbies before United matched the feat last term.[LNB]"Last year was disappointing but I don't think they were that much better than us," said Richards. [LNB]"They didn't wallop us off the park. But we showed two years ago, with a lesser team than we have now, what you can do by putting in 100 per cent."[LNB]City have picked up four wins from four games this season and passed their first big test last weekend after grabbing a controversial 4-2 win over Arsenal at Eastlands.[LNB]Taking on the champions in their own back yard is seen as a greater challenge to Richards however, but he is adamant his side are going for the win.[LNB]"This is definitely the test for us," he said. [LNB]"It's always going to be hard going to Old Trafford but a couple of seasons ago we completed the double over them by winning there and I don't see any reason why we can't do it this year.[LNB]"We are up for it. We have better players now and are relishing it. We love the challenge and playing in the derby will be unbelievable for the players. [LNB]New Faces"We have a couple of new faces who haven't experienced a Manchester derby before but I am sure that once the whistle blows they will be up for it.[LNB]"The most important thing is that we go out there and express ourselves," he said.[LNB]"We did that against Arsenal - normally against the bigger teams, our players hold back but we were outstanding and showed we have no fear.[LNB]"The fans are going to expect us to go to Old Trafford. If we give 100 per cent, who knows what can happen?"[LNB]City could be without their big-name forward line of Carlos Tevez and Robinho who are both struggling with injuries while Emmanuel Adebayor awaits confirmation of his suspension dates. [LNB]
