Jack Grealish will face the double pressure of trying to win his first Premier League title up against his boyhood club when Manchester City face Aston Villa on Sunday.
Micah Richards, who won the title with City in 2011/12, can relate to the midfielder’s position ahead of the final weekend having himself approached the last day of the seaso needing a win to guarantee his first winners’ medal.
“It’s difficult because these boys have already won the Premier League, Jack Grealish hasn’t so he may be a little more nervous than the others in the squad,” he told Standard Sport at the launch of McDonald’s Fun Football programme to provide free football coaching for a million kids over the next four years.
“But the night before we weren’t really that nervous because, no disrespect... but it was QPR. But then on the day it dawned on me that QPR needed to survive.
“So throughout the game it got more tense. But it’s more for the new players, especially Grealish who will be up against his old club as well, which may make it more difficult.”
Richards watched on from the bench as City secured their historic last-ditch winner a decade ago but is backing his former team to get the job done with more ease on Sunday.
News from Anfield as Liverpool face Wolves will no doubt filter through to the players on the Etihad Stadium pitch, which the ex-defender recalls was not always the most helpful of information.
“Where we were sat, the fans were there behind us and they kept letting us know every score - we didn’t want to know though because it just became more stressful as the game went on,” he added.
“Especially when we were losing, we thought we had blown it. You always have a look at half-time to see how the other team’s doing but I think Liverpool will win so it’s just about Man City having to win.
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“There’s no room for error. Liverpool have had an unbelievable season, getting that many points it will be tough on them if they don’t clinch it. But City will deserve it if they go on and win it.”
McDonald’s Fun Football sessions will take place across the entire UK with the next wave starting in June. To find a Fun Football session local to you visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/football. For further information on McDonald’s involvement in grassroots football follow @FunFootballUK on Twitter and Instagram.
