03 June 2023 , 23:32
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Micah Richards refused to accept that Gary Neville was a better player than him as the duo picked their combined Manchester City and Manchester United XI of all-time.
Richards won the Premier League and FA Cup during his time with City after graduating from their academy. But a succession of injuries ultimately meant that he failed to live up to his true potential, retiring at the age of just 31.
Neville meanwhile was captain of United for six years, winning eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Champions League trophies during his time at Old Trafford. Despite that impressive CV, Richards was adamant that he had been the better player.
The duo were taking part in a special addition of The Overlap ahead of the first ever FA Cup final comprising the two Manchester teams. They were joined by legendary United skipper Roy Keane and City women's icon Jill Scott.
Having discussed the position of goalkeeper, the quartet soon moved onto who would be picked at right-back. And Richards was clear that he had been better than Neville, an opinion that made the former United star spit out his tea.
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Richards began: "Let's get the elephant out of the room. I was a better player than you, come on." Neville then replied: "It's a big elephant that."
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who was the better player - Gary Neville or Micah Richards? Comment below.
Neville burst out laughing after Richards made his claim (The Overlap)Richards responded: "I was though wasn't I? I was better than you for about a season. At some thing's I was, of course I was. But he was in a great team. I was playing with Sibierski and David Sommeil. Who? Exactly."
But Keane leapt to Neville's defence, insisting that the latter was more of a package than Richards. The Irishman said: "You weren't better than Gary. As a package. They would be saying the same about playing with you. Course they would Micah, honestly."
In the end, the former United duo put Neville forward as their pick, with Richards and Scott going for current City star Kyle Walker. After much debate, Keane and Neville conceded that Walker should take the right-back spot.
Neville did admit though that Richards would perfectly slot into a three-man defence in todays game. Earlier, Richards and Scott had been forced to don United shirts as a forfeit for losing a quiz about past Manchester derbies.
But it was the former City pair who were left celebrating on Saturday night as their side continued their march towards a famous treble. Ilkay Gundogan scored a stunning volley after just 13 seconds to put Pep Guardiola's side ahead.
Bruno Fernandes levelled the game from the penalty spot after Jack Grealish was controversially penalised for a handball. But Gundogan scored a winner early into the second-half to ensure City lifted the trophy.