Manchester City's Vincent Kompany has told Belgian media he is "coming back even stronger than before" for next season after a mediocre last Premier League campaign.
Kompany, 29, made 25 top-flight appearances for City last term as he was blighted by injury before it was eventually cut short by a groin problem in mid-April.
His performances fell short of the high standards Kompany has set since arriving in England from Hamburg in 2008. However, the Belgium international is determined to prove wrong those who have suggested his powers are waning.
"At the level at which I play, I don't expect flowers when things aren't going well," said Kompany, who was voted Premier League Player of the Year in 2011-12, and included in the English top flight's team of the 2013-14 season.
"The day I win a prize and I have a good season, people will say I'm the best defender in the world. When a forward dribbles past me, they'll say I'm the worst defender in the world.
"The truth is that I can play football -- don't worry -- and I'm coming back even stronger than before. I have to show it on the pitch. I don't have a choice.
"Up until November, it was a very good season. After that, there were some injuries, and it was difficult to get my rhythm back. That's why I can't wait for the season to start. I'm 29, and I want to show that I am still able to achieve a higher level than I have shown up till now.
"That's the challenge for me. Every day, I wake up in the morning motivated to go to work and 'kill' myself in training if necessary, because I know there are many things to come. I'm hungrier now than when I was 17 and I made my first-team debut at Anderlecht.
"It's indescribable the desire I have to get out on the pitch and to put on my boots and dot the Is and cross the 'Ts. There is a time for everything. I am preparing myself, I'm building my strength, and I'm trying to improve."
He added: "I still have four years on my Manchester City contract, and I feel good there. I have the honour of being club captain, and that means something in England. For the moment, I'm happy, and I continue with the ambition of winning every trophy with City."
Kompany's below-par performances were in line with those of City, whose title defence petered out with Manuel Pellegrini's men unable to keep pace with eventual winners Chelsea.
"It's always more difficult when you have won a title. We started with a lot of teams wanting to beat us. We also had the impression that we had to win everything," said Kompany, whose side finished eight points behind the new English champions.
"In the Champions League, we came up against a very, very strong Barcelona side with whom we could not compete. And we also committed some uncharacteristic errors during the season. It became difficult for me, but also for a lot of City players. I don't think that any player, bar Kun Aguero and Joe Hart, is going to say they had a good season."