The Blues defender was in barnstorming form in the weekend defeat by Arsenal, drawing praise from all sides for his play in both halves of the pitch.
He readily accepted that it was one of his best 90 minutes for a while - and put it all down to the faith that has been shown in him.
Richards was hit hard by being left out of a number of England squads since winning the last of his senior caps, and being in and out of the City side following a hamstring problem did nothing to help restore his rhythm.
He was starting his first Premier League game since March when he lined up against the Gunners on Sunday.
“Confidence plays a big role in football in general, and mine is back at a high level,” declared Richards, who admits to picking the brains of more senior members of the squad including World Cup winner Patrick Vieira.
I was pleased with the way I played against Arsenal, although maybe I should have had a goal - the result was a bitter disappointment to us all
“It’s a great feeling to be a proper part of such a talented squad and play a full part in things. I’m listening to what the manager and others are saying to me and I’m happy with my work. Hopefully, they’re happy with it too.
“The main aim for the team is now to bounce back quickly and get more points on the board. We could have put some pressure on Chelsea had we beaten Arsenal.
“Wolves away this weekend will be tough - they are probably better than their results so far suggest, and they will be eager to climb the table.
“But we feel as though we are improving all the time, and we have the passion to go with our skill and are a match for anyone.”
