"They’ve Got No Grit, No Guile" – Micah Richards Blames one particular player and Man City’s Squad for Poor Form

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has pointed out the struggles of his old club, singling out Rodri and the team’s overall performance as key reasons for their poor form. This comes after City suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, a result that extended their dismal run to just one win in their last 11 matches across all competitions.

City’s performance against United showed signs of a team that is far from its usual dominant self. The loss came after a dramatic late collapse, with United scoring both goals within two minutes in the dying stages of the match. Matheus Nunes conceded an 88th-minute penalty by clumsily fouling Amad Diallo in the box. Bruno Fernandes converted the spot-kick to level the score.

Just moments later, Amad delivered the decisive blow with a stunning goal. A lofted pass from Lisandro Martinez sliced through City’s defense, leaving Ederson stranded as Amad chipped the ball over the goalkeeper before finishing from a tight angle.

The dramatic turnaround left City reeling, with Richards voicing his concerns about their lack of character and determination. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said:

“Yes, we can blame Rodri, especially in the early stages [of the game]. The way he controls the game – he’s a vital member of this side. But it’s more than one player. It’s collective.”

Richards highlighted how the City team, which has been so dominant in recent years, seems to have lost its edge:
“They’ve got no guile, no grit. They’re too easy to play against at this moment in time. It’s hard to criticize Man City because of everything they’ve achieved – winning four leagues in a row. But they’ve dropped off. You always expect them to bounce back and go on a run, but right now, they look far from that.”

Richards also expressed disbelief at the state of the team:
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing. We’re talking about one win in 11 games. A team that was that good now looks unrecognizable.”

The defeat to Manchester United leaves City in a tough spot. Their inability to close out games and lack of control in key moments has become a recurring problem. Despite their success in recent years, Richards’ comments reflect growing concern over their ability to recover and compete at the highest level.

With a packed schedule ahead, manager Pep Guardiola has a big challenge on his hands to reignite the fire in his team. If City are to regain their form, they’ll need not only Rodri but the entire squad to step up and deliver the grit and determination they’ve been lacking.