Richards requires Villarreal victory

Micah Richards admits that Manchester City have made a slow start to their UEFA Champions League campaign, but he fully expects his teammates to take things up a notch in their final three group matches.

As Roberto Mancini's side prepare for tomorrow's clash with Villarreal, the 23-year-old defender insists that three more points in Spain will put the Citizens in a healthy position as they look to make it through to the last-16.

"We'd obviously rather be going to Villarreal with more points on the board but it's not the end of the world," said Richards. "We will go into the game in great confidence and look to win the game - if we do, it could put a completely different complexion on the group.

"It could work in our favour that Villarreal need to win because they will have to come at us which will give us the opportunity to do our stuff on the counter attack.

"In both our home games in the Champions League we found it hard to break down the opposition because they put so many men behind the ball, but I can't see that happening in the away games."

City's only other away fixture in Europe's top-tier competition came in the form of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich - a match that Richards says the players have learnt from, and can't wait to go head-to-head with the Bundesliga giants again.

"People said when we lost that we weren't good enough to play Champions League football, which was way off the mark," he continued. "We were just beaten by a very good side and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and admit that.

"We started the game really well, should have maybe had a couple of penalties and from there on who knows what might have happened?

"But they got on top, we were far from our best and they deserved their win – but we can't wait to get them back to our place because we will give a much better account of ourselves, I'm sure."