Manchester City defender Micah Richards was so hurt by his side losing their grip on the Premier League title that he "wanted to cry".
City led the way for the majority of the season and a maiden crown in the Premier League era seemed as though it would be theirs, especially in the wake of their 6-1 win over Manchester United back in October.
But, United have pegged them back over recent months and, with their win over Blackburn last weekend, were able to take City`s destiny out of their own hands.
Watching that game, Richards has admitted that he was left to think what might have been.
"At half-time and at 60 minutes, I thought: `You never know`, but United do always look like they will score," he told the Daily Mail.
"So I knew it was going to come.
"But when they got it and went further clear of us, I actually wanted to cry and I haven`t done that or felt like that in years.
"Football is full of emotions. You get angry and happy but I have never wanted to cry before. This time I did as that`s how much it means.
"I have been grafting so hard this season, we have played unbelievable football and to see United come like this is horrendous. It kills me."
Although the two sides are still to play each other again this season, City are eight points shy of United heading into tonight`s fixtures.
Both have winnable-looking games, with the Blues facing West Brom and the Reds taking on Wigan, but Richards knows October`s drubbing should have settled things there and then.
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"(Sir Alex Ferguson) Fergie has got to be one of the best managers that I`ve ever come across because, if we had got beaten 6-1 that day, United would have been 20 points clear by now," he added.
