Pellegrini will now be replacing Roberto Mancini, as he was having a bit hard time with the City squad and a trophyless season in May.
Pellegrini who is Chilean has a reputation for good man-management with brief stints of working spells at Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga, and players are happy with his experienced pre-season training.
Richards had missed almost 6 months in last season due to a knee injury, is also confident that City will prove to be a big challenge for silverware in the forthcoming campaign.
“I think we’re missing a little bit of luck last season. We will be all right if we keep everyone fit and keep the squad happy. If that happens, we’ll be challenging again.”
Expectations are high for City who have spent around £90m since Mancini’s firing on midfielder Fernandinho, winger Jesus Navas and strikers Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo.
Richards is likely to be battling Pablo Zabaleta for right back berth, and feels Jovetic has got good technique, Negredo looks like a good finisher and Navas possesses extremely good pace.
Micah Richards, the English international defender said “I don’t want to say Mancini wasn’t good, I spoke to him and got on fine with him. But I think Pellegrini will go the extra yard to make sure players are all right and how they’re feeling. It’s still early yet, but I think Pellegrini so far has been good. However, we’ll wait till the end of the season and hopefully we’ll be picking up that trophy. That’s when he will be judged.”