Manchester City defender Micah Richards has played down reports that Manuel Pellegrini will be appointed the club's new manager.

The Chilean boss has been heavily linked with the vacancy left by Roberto Mancini after he announced his departure from Malaga.

"That's in the papers, so everyone's speaking about it but you never know," Richards told Sky Sports News. "Sometimes there's always late runners coming in. Whoever it is, we'll give 100% and be fully behind them."

Meanwhile, Richards found the back of the net in City's 4-3 win over Chelsea in their friendly in St Louis.