Quotes from Micah Richards

On social media, you have a mask on where you are smiling, but you're crying inside. And that was me.

My favourite actor is Denzel Washington, he's a smooth character so he could play me too!

I don't necessarily like the things footballers do. All these kissing the badge, just doing it for the clout.

When I was younger I wish there had been more opportunities to just go out and enjoy myself. So, now that I am in a privileged position I want to try and be a positive influence if I can.

I loved the banter with the fans and the thought I was giving something back to the people who support me. But then you get people telling me to go and play for Africa. What do they mean by that? It's so narrow-minded and it's hard to take.

If I had stayed at City I think I would have been someone who simply filled in when I was required. I'd rather go elsewhere and play regularly. Be a bigger part of a smaller team.

I've always said given a chance, with me being 100 per cent and none of the niggling injuries I always seem to pick up now and then, that I can compete with anyone in the league who is challenging in my position.

If you see me when I first burst onto the scene, you see how quickly I could turn for a big lad and how fast I was up and down the pitch. Then I started picking and choosing my time to go forwards because I was scared of my hamstring going or my knee not dealing with it.

The magic of the cup is winning it, or causing an upset as far as I am concerned - but it is not so enjoyable for anyone when you are on the receiving end.

But you can never take anything for granted in the FA Cup, because an upset is always only just around the corner, and I have experienced those too.

People think because I was at City that I've only won leagues and cups, but I was there when we were struggling.

Do I like most footballers? Not really. Joe Hart, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joleon Lescott, Gabby Agbonlahor and a group of the guys at Villa - good people.

There were times while I was injured at Villa when I felt like I was a ghost.

I knew my knee was getting worse at Villa. The first season was dreadful and we went down. But speak to the Villa fans - take away the last three years - they were saying at the start that I should be playing for England.

Luckily, I'm not one of these players who get nervous.

Well certain managers will see you make mistakes and they'll tell you about it and then they've told you once and if you do it again, then it's up to you.