Micah Richards says Manchester City's players are responding to Robert Mancini's methods after last night's 4-1 defeat of Blackburn Rovers.

Richards was also full of praise for Mancini. He told ESPN: "Since the boss has come in he has brought a confidence and we are showing it on the pitch.

"I am back at centre-half. I feel I am at my best there and I am taking every game as it comes and hopefully I can take this form into the weekend game at Everton."

Richards claimed the second goal for City after his 70-metre run saw him set up Benjani Mwaruwari. The Zimbabwean forward hit the post but the England defender put away the rebound.

He said of his surging run: "I just kept running I saw the space and luckily it came off the post and I got the rebound. I got lucky this time. I was looking for a pass but the momentum kept me going."