Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany being cautious with latest comeback

MANCHESTER -- Vincent Kompany has revealed he missed Manchester City's Champions League clash with Barcelona because he doesn't want to take any chances with his latest injury comeback.

City boss Pep Guardiola said the defender was left out his matchday squad for last Wednesday's game because he told him he was not fit despite Kompany's Belgium teammate Kevin De Bruyne saying he was available for selection. However the defender said he was determined to play but that the decision was taken with advice from club's medical staff.

The 30-year-old, who has been dogged by muscle injuries in recent seasons -- suffering five separate problems last season -- says he has been working closely with medics in a bid to end his injury nightmare.

"My situation is very simple, I think you can make a mistake to over-analyse things. I've been out for six months. I've had to make one commitment to the medical staff, which was that I'd be honest towards them with my feelings, and that I would listen to them when they made a decision," Kompany told reporters.

"I told them how I felt the day before the [Barcelona] game and they made the decision for me. That I wanted to play, of course, that wasn't even in doubt, but I've just made this commitment to listen to them a little bit more. Maybe another day I would never have gone off after 70 minutes like I did [against Southampton], but it's part of the bargain, let's put it that way, and it's for the best."

Kompany was in Guardiola's lineup for the 1-1 draw with Southampton on Sunday, which was only his second start of the season after a serious thigh strain last May.

In total, he started 51 of City's 110 games in the previous two seasons but he remains confident that he can overcome his injury problems.

"I'm always confident and if logic says otherwise, my way of thinking is always my own way of thinking," he added.

"If I give up then I know the outcome. But if I carry on -- and you've been there for the good moments as well -- there's always a chance that I'll relive those moments. So my motivation can never be in doubt.

"I think I thrive on the challenge. God knows what would have happened if I'd never had those injuries but I need to get something that makes me stronger out of it, something different from other players, and that's what I believe in.

"Okay, that's been my reality for the last few years now, but motivation only keeps going up, because I feel like I belong on the pitch and I deserve to have good moments because of how I've worked every single day to come back. But I trust myself, incredibly."

Missing the Barca game led to speculation that he could be on his way out of the Etihad with Guardiola looking for reinforcements.

But Kompany, who played 78 minutes against Southampton, is determined to prove he is capable of earning a place in the Spaniard's side.

"The one thing you learn is to not speculate too much or look too far into the future," he said.

"I'm just happy [the Southampton] game went well, physically, and I'm happy I can look forward to being in contention for another game.

"I think everything in time, as I said. I feel good, and I'm very humble about it. My role is to be available as many times as I can, and then the rest I feel extremely confident that when I'm available for a longer period of time I will be a player that's very useful to the team. But everything in time."

^ Back to Top ^