Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has defended Kevin de Bruyne regarding his comments at the World Cup.

De Bruyne delivered a scathing attack on his team after one of their group stage matches, stating they were too old to perform at a high level after they lost to Morocco.

Despite putting in a better display against Croatia in their final game, Belgium could only draw and were knocked out at the group stage.

Speaking on BBC Sport before that game, Richards stated: "I think it would've been frustration, he's been in the form of his life, he's come here and Belgium aren't in their groove.

"He shouldn't be hanging his teammates out like that but for [defender Jan] Vertonghen to react like that is even worse, two wrongs don't make a right.

“It was out of frustration, they need to get it right today."

After De Bruyne's comments, Vertonghen had responded to the press as well.

"I guess we attack badly because we're too old up-front," Vertonghen stated.