Manchester City had reached the decisive stretch of the season, and Richard knew there was no room for complacency. With a commanding lead in the Premier League, expectations were sky-high.
"We need to win the league—at the very least," he told himself before convening a meeting with the coaching staff and the club's senior management.
During the discussion, Richard laid out his priorities for the run-in. The immediate focus was on securing the League Cup and, above all, the Premier League title. The Champions League remained a target, of course, but he was pragmatic. With Real Madrid looming as likely finalists, he admitted his doubts. Madrid had a reputation for raising their game in Europe, often performing better on the continental stage than in La Liga. Competing with them was never straightforward.
