Full praise for Richards
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Chelsea stars John Terry and Arjen Robben hailed young Manchester City defender Micah Richards after his England debut on Wednesday night.
The Blues are being linked with a January move for Richards and Dutch winger Robben said: "He has got a great future ahead of him. He is just 18 but if you see his body and strength and power it is unbelievable.
"He is quick and powerful and it was a good fight between us."
Richards produced a debut performance of such exceptional maturity that Manchester United's Gary Neville now knows he has a serious rival for his right-back berth for the first time in a decade.
England skipper Terry was hugely impressed by Richards.
The Chelsea star said: "Micah did fantastically well. He looked like he had been playing there for two or three years and was a credit to himself.
"He's been playing very well for Manchester City and, coming into this atmosphere with a lot of pressure on him, he did very very well.
"Young players come into the squad now and they are so confident and I mean that in a nice way, not an arrogant way.
"He's confident in his own ability and that showed. He's created a problem for the boss now.
"He was facing two fantastic wingers in world football - Robben and Van der Vaart - and he came out on top. One on one, defensively, I don't think anyone beat him.
"He was also very calm on the ball and didn't really give it away. He won his headers and we all know he's great in the air. It's all very pleasing.
"It's exciting that Micah has come in and done so well and that must give other young players confidence and a target to reach.
"This shows that if they are good enough, they will get their chance."
Keeper Paul Robinson was another England star left drooling by Richards' sizzling debut.
Robbo said: "Micah did very well. It was not an easy game to come into for your first game and he coped exceptionally well.
"It looked as if he had been there for a while.
"He did not look nervous beforehand. He was as cool as a cucumber to be honest with you. He took all the lads' advice on board before kick-off, went out there and did a very good job."
The Blues are being linked with a January move for Richards and Dutch winger Robben said: "He has got a great future ahead of him. He is just 18 but if you see his body and strength and power it is unbelievable.
"He is quick and powerful and it was a good fight between us."
Richards produced a debut performance of such exceptional maturity that Manchester United's Gary Neville now knows he has a serious rival for his right-back berth for the first time in a decade.
England skipper Terry was hugely impressed by Richards.
The Chelsea star said: "Micah did fantastically well. He looked like he had been playing there for two or three years and was a credit to himself.
"He's been playing very well for Manchester City and, coming into this atmosphere with a lot of pressure on him, he did very very well.
"Young players come into the squad now and they are so confident and I mean that in a nice way, not an arrogant way.
"He's confident in his own ability and that showed. He's created a problem for the boss now.
"He was facing two fantastic wingers in world football - Robben and Van der Vaart - and he came out on top. One on one, defensively, I don't think anyone beat him.
"He was also very calm on the ball and didn't really give it away. He won his headers and we all know he's great in the air. It's all very pleasing.
"It's exciting that Micah has come in and done so well and that must give other young players confidence and a target to reach.
"This shows that if they are good enough, they will get their chance."
Keeper Paul Robinson was another England star left drooling by Richards' sizzling debut.
Robbo said: "Micah did very well. It was not an easy game to come into for your first game and he coped exceptionally well.
"It looked as if he had been there for a while.
"He did not look nervous beforehand. He was as cool as a cucumber to be honest with you. He took all the lads' advice on board before kick-off, went out there and did a very good job."
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