Manchester City fans deserve success for their loyalty, says former world champion Ricky Hatton

Manchester City fans have earned the right to watch world-class players, says former world champion Ricky Hatton.

In 1998, City found themselves in the third tier of English football but 14 years later won a Premier League title - and Hatton believes the loyalty shown by the supporters is being rightfully rewarded with investment.

His thoughts on City's meteoric rise back to the top are just one highlight from an intriguing interview, as the former light-welterweight and welterweight world champion discusses the past, present and future of his beloved City.

City have started well. Will you regain the title this year?

Ricky says: It's too early to say but we're looking really well. A couple of the players who didn't shine last year like Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure, who I absolutely want to stay, Eliaquim Mangala and Jesus Navas are finding their feet early. That's like having four new signings. I'd still like to see us sign another centre-half and another striker.

Is Joe Hart the best 'keeper in the world?

Ricky says: There are a lot of great goalkeepers out there but you would have to say he stands there as good as any of them. When you try to think of any as good as him off the top of your head, there aren't too many that come to mind.

Were you sad to see Micah Richards' City career end the way it did?

Ricky says: I felt really sorry for him. He was the teenage sensation when he came up. Then he had a bad spell and then he found his form again. By that time, Pablo Zabaleta had established himself and displacing him was always going to be a tough ask. Aston Villa have got a stunning signing there and I wish Micah all the best. I saw him the other week and he seems happy.

Winning the title was massive for you but did you feel more passionate when you plummeted down the leagues?

Ricky says: In a way. When a club as big as Manchester City goes down to the second division, you can't comprehend it. There are a lot of clubs that have a great fanbase but City stood up to be counted there. There was still 30,000 at Maine Road every week. Those divisions are hard to come back out of because the teams are battlers.

For us to come straight up twice showed the character at the club. The fans were there every step of the way. If anyone deserves to see world class players at their club, it's City fans because of what we've had to put up with!

Who is your favourite City player of all time?

I think Colin Bell would be on most people's lists. I think he's the best player City have ever had.

Personally, though, the best I saw you play live was Georgi Kinkladze. When I was a teenager coming up, when he was on form and running at defenders, there was no better sight in football for me.

How about your favourite manager?

I've got respect for all the City managers but my personal favourite was Stuart Pearce. He came to the boxing gym when he was managing City and watched me train for the title fights, he'd invite me to the training ground and he even carried my belt in when I fought Carlos Maussa.

We went on a pre-season tour and he invited me to his hotel for coffee. I had a lot of admiration for him before I met him as a footballer. He's a real English die-hard. When I met him it was even better though - he's the opposite to how he is on the pitch!

How will City get on at Everton on Sunday?

I think the way we've started, you've got to expect us to get all three points. Everton have been our bogey team the last few years and Goodison Park is always tough to go to but the form City are on, you would expect us to win. No disrespect to Everton but we can't expect anything else.

Ricky predicts: Everton 1-3 Manchester City

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