Micah Richards was the butt of the jokes for the second time on the trot - but he took it in trademark fashion.
The former Manchester City defender has become one of the nation’s most beloved pundits, not only for his analytical knowledge but for his infectious personality. And the latter was firmly on display on Wednesday night, as Peter Schmeichel poked fun at his playing career.
Richards was appearing as part of CBS Sports' Champions League coverage, joining presenter Kate Abdo, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, Arsenal icon Thierry Henry and from pitch side at Stamford Bridge, Schmeichel.
The Manchester United legend was speaking to the pundits back in the studio when he outlined the credentials of some of the players on the pitch before Chelsea vs AC Milan.
“Over here is Clarence Seedorf…he’s won the Champions League four times, with three different clubs. Nesta with AC Milan - he’s won it twice with AC Milan. And then I look at Gianfranco Zola, who is an absolute legend and hero here at Chelsea Football Club. And he’s a bit like Micah…he’s never won it!”
Schmeichel was of course in the United goal when they won Europe’s biggest prize in 1999, while Carragher and Henry lifted the Champions League with Liverpool and Barcelona respectively. Carragher, who also works with Richards on Sky Sports, could be heard roaring with laughter as Schmeichel spoke - well before the punchline even came.
It’s not the first time Richards’ honours list has come up either. Kate Abdo earned a laugh or two when she kicked off Tuesday night’s programme by introducing the studio pundits.
"[I'm] Joined by the Champions League winner with Barcelona Thierry Henry, Champions League winner with Liverpool Jamie Carragher and the man with five appearances in the Champions League Micah Richards,” she said.
Richards again saw the funny side, laughing and replying: “That’s cold blooded that is, Kate,” before adding: “"We were a new team. For the ones that could do it now, we were building them foundations."
Richards was forced to retire from professional football in 2019, aged just 31. The former England full-back “burst onto the scene” with City as a teenager and was part of the squad which won their first ever Premier League title in 2013.
He then made his Champions League debut in the Allianz Arena as City lost 2-0 to Bayern back in 2011. His time competing in Europe's top club competition would come to an end when he left his boyhood club permanently in 2015, heading to Aston Villa after a loan spell at Fiorentina, having struggled to establish himself as first-choice at the Etihad.
