‘Dias can’t replace Kompany at Man City, no-one can’ – Richards hoping £62m signing adds leadership

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The former Blues defender hopes another big-money addition can raise collective standards, with Pep Guardiola’s side giving up against Leicester

Ruben Dias may have arrived at Manchester City with a £62 million ($80m) price tag and a big billing as the defensive leader that the Blues are crying out for, but Micah Richards says “nobody will ever replace Vincent Kompany”.

Pep Guardiola is hoping to prove that a suitable successor to a Belgian icon can be found at the Etihad Stadium.

Dias is the latest to be charged with the task of filling some big boots, with the Portuguese having been snapped up from Benfica.

Richards hopes the 23-year-old can hit the ground running in English football, with City seemingly throwing in the towel when slipping to a 5-2 defeat against Leicester in their last Premier League outing, but the former Blues defender says the efforts of club legends will not be emulated.

“Defeats happen. There are ways to lose, though, and it felt like some gave up too easily against Leicester and, if that was the case, it is unacceptable,” Richards told the Daily Mail.

“I like Leicester and I thought Jamie Vardy was superb but Manchester City don't concede five at home to Leicester. That just doesn't happen.

“More scrutiny is now on a defence that has cost in excess of £350 million to assemble.

“Ruben Dias, from Benfica, is the latest addition for a club-record fee and already I have heard people referring to him as 'The next Vincent Kompany'. Such comparisons are ridiculous.

“Nobody will ever replace Vincent Kompany. Vinny was one of the greatest defenders of the Premier League era but the vast majority of you only saw what he did he did on the pitch. Off the pitch, away from the cameras, his impact on City helped shape the club.

“It's similar with Phil Foden. He isn't the next David Silva. He may have a beautiful left foot but he is a completely different midfielder; it's far-fetched to think a new face replaces an old one and everything stays the same.

“There are leaders in the current squad. Kevin De Bruyne takes people with him through the brilliance of his play, while Fernandinho is a big character. I think they need someone, however, whose leadership extends away from the pitch.

“Sometimes it feels like new faces have arrived in Manchester and they think it's all about the glitz and the glamour. I want them to understand what City is about, what it really means to the fans. I don't ever want City's players to not to have a link with its local community.”

City, with questions once again being asked of Guardiola’s future at the club, will be back in action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Leeds United.

2020-10-03 18:00:04

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