Micah Richards had Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker in stitches with his account of taking the âworst penalty everâ during a pre-season game between Manchester City and Olympiacos in 2014.The former City and England defender, who is now one of the most popular pundits on TV, was discussing the Premier Leagueâs best ever set-piece takers for the Match of the Day Top 10 podcast.Asked by Lineker if he took a penalty during his career, Richards said: âNot in a real game, in a pre-season. It was the worst penalty youâve ever seen. It was so bad.âI was giving it billy big time, wasnât I?âIn training, you know training is different.âLineker added: âItâs like being on the range in golf.â Richards continued: âStanch, putting them in no problem. [Manuel] Pellegrini was the manager.âSo, then we were on pre-season, we were playing someone in Greece.âHe goes to me, âYouâre upâ. I said, âWhat do you mean I'm up?ââI said, âIâm not going to take oneâ, and he said, âGo on, youâve been practicing all week, youâre really good at them.â So, Iâve got up, havenât I?âWalking up because I donât know how to act for a penalty, you canât be shy but you canât be, I was too over confident.âYou play mind games. So how shall I act?âShall I be the confident Big Meeks? Or shall I be the timid Micah?âYou know what I mean? So I was like, âOkay, letâs play the role of Big Meeks.ââIâm walking up, chest out. âIâm gonna put you in the stands.ââI donât think I'm just gonna roll it in, I tried to put in the stanch. Just as I was I got not cramp, it was like nervous energy through my legs - and Iâve hit it and itâs gone about five or six yards over the bar.âLineker asked if it was like Kepa Arrizabalagaâs spot-kick in the recent Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool.âOh, worse than that,â Richards responded.
Video: Micah Ricards' penalty vs Olympiacos
Weâve found footage of the penalty and Richards is correct: it was an absolute shocker.
How on earth did his left leg end up in this position?!
Watch the one and only penalty of Richardsâ career here:
Playing the role of Big Meeks clearly backfired.
No wonder he was never allowed to take another penalty again.
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