Micah Richards’ comments on Celtic-bound Jahmai Simpson-Pusey in November make interesting reading

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Celtic are going to further bolster their defensive line by securing the signature of a Manchester City talent. 

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is set to join Celtic on a season-long loan deal from the English Premier League side.

The champions of Scotland have already made several defensive signings this term, including Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic and Hayato Inamura joining from the J-League in Japan.

But now highly-rated youngster Simpson-Pusey is set to join the ranks of Scotland’s most successful club, after getting a brief taste of playing under Pep Guardiola last season.

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Celtic-bound Jahmai Simpson-Pusey’s only Champions League start for Manchester City

Even though Manchester City have dominated domestically for the last decade, they struggled last term, including in the Champions League.

One of the games that proved to be a problem was their 4-1 defeat away at Ruben Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon in November during the league phase.

That was also the game that Guardiola decided to hand Simpson-Pusey his first start in the Champions League. 

On paper, it wasn’t great reading for the 19-year-old because he was dropped for the following match against Feyenoord, and when he came off the bench for his 22 minutes, the Dutch side came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at the Etihad. 

But Micah Richards shared the bigger picture back then on the soon-to-be Celtic player.

What Micah Richards said about Simpson-Pusey in the Champions League

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast back in November, Richards analysed that game and noted how Simpson-Pusey performed.

The former right-back explained how the versatile defender is ‘well thought of’ in Manchester, but he was ‘exposed’ in Lisbon and how it ‘wasn’t fair.’

Yes, on paper, it wasn’t a great performance from the teenager, but he defended the young kid because of the environment he was in. 

“I know people talk about Manchester City having a young player playing, Pusey,” said Richards in November. 

“He was really well thought of. He is going to take this game like this is one for him, where he isn’t ready for the level. It wasn’t a fact of that. 

“It was the fact that he was left exposed on numerous occasions. Yes, in Champions League football, you get punished because it’s the highest level. I just thought he had no protection. I didn’t think it was fair.”