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Showing posts with label Vincent Kompany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vincent Kompany. Show all posts

Vincent Kompany allays concerns about his fitness after Champions League setback

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany insists the calf injury that forced him to leave the field against Juventus is no cause for concern.



Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany insists the calf injury that forced him to leave the field against Juventus is no cause for concern.
Kompany was replaced by summer signing Nicolas Otamendi after 75 minutes of City's Champions League opener, with the game finely balanced at 1-1.
Alvaro Morata scored the winner for Juve just six minutes later, but that disappointment looks unlikely to be compounded by a lay-off for their skipper.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini suggested the 29-year-old would be in contention for Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting with West Ham, and Kompany shares that optimism.
"It was just a precaution," he said. "It is not serious, I know my body."
Defeat to Massimiliano Allegri's side continued a frustrating sequence for City, who have been notoriously slow starters in Europe over recent seasons, albeit against some illustrious opponents.
In 2011 they drew with Napoli, a year later they were beaten by Real Madrid and last term they began with a loss at Bayern Munich.
Only a 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen two seasons ago bucks the trend but Kompany was not downcast about his team's efforts on Tuesday night.
"It was a very different game than in previous campaigns...there was actually nothing wrong with our performance," he said.
"In that respect I worry a lot less than in previous campaigns. There was no panic and we did not feel we did not know what to do.
"We played against a very good team, last year's finalists, and they did very well.
"We are a little unhappy but we can take confidence to the next game."
City had chances to put the game beyond the visitors, with Raheem Sterling wasting a couple of presentable openings, the first of which arrived in the second minute of the match.
Wilfried Bony also proved a modest deputy for Sergio Aguero, who was only fit enough for a late cameo off the bench.
In the end it was Kompany who forced the breakthrough, pressuring Giorgio Chiellini into an own-goal in a way the Italian was unhappy about.
"Yes, we got chances and we were the better team. We could actually have finished the match much earlier," he said.
"Usually that is not a problem for us but it was this time.
Kompany's injury meant he got to share the field with his Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne for only a few minutes on his home debut, as a 75th replacement for Samir Nasri.
The £55million signing had a quiet time, but his captain believes that was largely down to Juve's methods.
"They scored just before he settled in and then stood with eleven men back, not nine, not 10, but 11 men," said Kompany.
"The Italians are smart. They are a well-disciplined team, they know what to do."



We want to beat the best teams in Europe - Vincent Kompany

Captain Vincent Kompany claims Manchester City are hungry for success and determined to deliver in the Champions League.




Captain Vincent Kompany claims Manchester City are hungry for success and determined to deliver in the Champions League.
City have begun the season emphatically by winning their opening five Barclays Premier League matches without conceding a goal.
Now they want to carry that momentum into the Champions League, in which they have never previously progressed beyond the last 16.
They begin their latest challenge on Tuesday with a testing visit from last season's runners-up Juventus, and Kompany said: "We don't want to go out to the strongest teams but to compete with them and at least beat them on a regular basis."
City's optimism is tempered slightly by the loss of star striker Sergio Aguero due to a knee injury.
Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez is relishing the attacking options at his disposal as he prepares to launch the club's latest assault on Champions League glory.
The Spaniards welcome Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk to the Bernabeu Stadium in their opening Group A fixture, with Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular in the mood to terrorise opponents.
Benitez told the club's official website: "Bale brings speed and penetration, Cristiano drifts inside, and that balance with Karim Benzema, Isco, and Marcelo joining in the attack... It creates a lot of danger for our opponents."
Captain Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United's game against PSV on Tuesday because of a hamstring injury, so Marouane Fellaini could continue up front.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to action for Paris St Germain when the French giants host his hometown club Malmo in Group A.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc gave the Sweden forward the night off last Friday, when the team drew 2-2 with Bordeaux in Ligue 1.
Ibrahimovic picked up a knock while on international duty last week and was rested as a precaution.
Borussia Monchengladbach are seeking to spark their season into life when they play in Europe's elite club competition after a 37-year wait at Sevilla.
Wolfsburg will be without Koen Casteels with a toe injury and Vieirinha, who is struggling with a thigh problem, for their home clash with CSKA Moscow.
Atletico Madrid's summer signing Jackson Martinez could start against Galatasaray, with the Colombian striker coming on as a second-half substitute at the weekend.
Astana will be without forward Patrick Twumasi through suspension when they face Benfica in Lisbon.