By Micah Richards Manchester City and England defender

The last thing manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said to the Manchester City players before we went out at Old Trafford on Sunday was "don't be afraid".

He told us that we were better than Manchester United so we had nothing to worry about.

We believed it. He gave us that confidence and we did it - we beat them.

It was an amazing day. City had not won there for 34 years, so to be part of a team to manage it is phenomenal.

I watched the match again before training on Monday morning and I noticed a couple of tackles that myself and Richard Dunne made - we definitely made sure we got stuck into them

Our preparation was for the same as any other match, we all met up in a hotel the night before the game, drove to the training ground then went to Old Trafford by coach.

We always stay in the same place in Manchester city centre, whenever we play in the north-west, home or away.

You may think it is a bit strange but I like it. It is good for team bonding.

We get there at about 6pm and always have a general knowledge quiz the night before the game, which is run by Les Chapman our kit-man. We do not split into teams, it is every man for himself!

The best by far is Didi Hamann, he has got a lot of knowledge, and the worst has got to be Kelvin Etuhu. He is actually good academically but some of his answers are ridiculous.

Me, I'm in the middle somewhere. I have not really got a specialist subject, although I normally do well with the music questions.

606: DEBATE Your chance to quiz Micah

We are normally up until 11pm but we went to bed a bit earlier on Saturday because of the early kick-off on Sunday.

We were up early in the morning and out and about at 10am for a team walk, then we had our pre-match meal, which is pasta or rice with chicken - the usual stuff.

We arrived at Old Trafford at 12.15pm. There was a lot to think about before the game, with the minute's silence for the Munich air disaster. I wouldn't say it distracted me ahead of the match but, of course, you notice what is happening and take it in.

As soon as the whistle was blown though, it was strange how I blocked all of that out and just concentrated on the game.

I was really impressed by the City fans during the silence. For them to keep quiet, especially after what happened before last week's England international, was a good thing.

And they were absolutely amazing during the match too. In fact, that was the best I have ever seen them, they just did not stop singing.

The City players were really up for the game too. We wanted to show it was not only United who were turning up and that we had quality as well.

I watched the match again before training on Monday morning and I noticed a couple of tackles that myself and Richard Dunne made - we definitely made sure we got stuck into them!

It was a great feeling when Darius Vassell scored our first goal and, when the second went in, it was almost unreal.

The main thing that was said to us at half-time was to keep our focus.

Micah applauds the Man City fans after Sunday's win at Old Trafford

Apparently, United win a huge percentage of their games in the last 20 minutes of the match. We were warned about that - and not to think we had won when it got to that stage.

We were disappointed to concede a goal at the end but that did not matter when the final whistle went. It was the best moment of my club career.

I have heard that United have blamed the defeat on player fatigue but I do not think that is a valid excuse.

I may not have played for England last week but I had to go through the same as their players and train twice a day.

It wasn't just United's players who did it, we all did.

Plus England were at home. Many other players at City were away playing abroad so they had flights to contend with too.