The 26-year-old defender transitioned to South London from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022, but it took him some time to secure a regular spot as a first-choice player for the Eagles, as he only made nine appearances during his first Premier League season.
In the subsequent two seasons, however, Richards has established himself as a key player at centre-back, participating in every minute of Palace’s impressive FA Cup campaign last year and starting 10 out of 12 matches in the UEFA Conference League this season.
Achieving this level of performance required not only patience but also the guidance of teammate Joel Ward, who has been a significant leader at the club.
„I think as a 22-year-old who came from a big club like Bayern, you’re thinking, ‘alright, cool, I’m gonna get here, I’m gonna play,’” Richards shared in a recent interview with CBS Sports.
He continued, „I feel like I was doing everything right and so [Ward] pulled me to the side a few times, like: ‚Everybody sees you doing the right thing. Just keep doing the right thing so that when your time does come, you’re ready for it.‘
“He wasn’t even really playing at the time but he knew what his spot and what his role was in the club, and he did it perfectly.”
Bildquelle: Foto von Georg Eiermann auf Unsplash
