City’s success fuelled by steely will Kompany to join Anderlecht as player-manager
FA CUP Relentless work ethic of Guardiola’s boys to the fore as they complete domestic treble
LONDON: Three trophies, an amazing tally of 169 goals in 61 games and some of the most mesmerizing football ever seen in England tell only half the story of Manchester City’s incredible success.
Leading 6-0 in the FA Cup final on Saturday with the treble secure and their fans in full voice at Wembley, half a dozen City players strained every sinew to chase back and douse a rare Watford attack, showing the relentless work ethic that underpins every great side.
The all-conquering Barcelona and Spain teams of the early 2000s passed the ball like nobody before them, but also worked harder than any opponent when they did not have it.
City manager Pep Guardiola, schooled in such methods at the Nou Camp, has instilled that mentality in his players.
Raheem Sterling and David Silva had no right to win aerial challenges on the edge of the Watford box against bigger, stronger opponents but both did to set up Silva for the opening goal after 26 minutes.
The lung-bursting runs continued throughout the game as City, tired according to their coach, eventually tore Watford apart, completing the joint-biggest win in the 147-year history of the world’s oldest cup competition.
Guardiola, with help from assistant Mikel Arteta, has transformed Sterling from a tricky winger with infuriatingly wayward finishing into a prolific goalscorer who has now found the net almost 50 times for City in the last two seasons.
There was something of a debate about whether Sterling should have been credited with City’s second goal, the ball seemingly over the line from Gabriel Jesus, but he was in no mood to care having finished the game with two more.
“I don’t have a Scooby-doo (clue),” he said of the 38th-min
ute goal. “The boys did brilliantly. My goals added to the win. It shows what the manager is building here. He said we needed to get the mentality right and we did that and did it exceptionally well.”
Guardiola passed the baton of praise straight back.
“Because I was a player, I know that the players deserve League and one in the Community Shield).
Guardiola became just the eighth manager to win the English top-flight, League Cup and FA Cup, joining Bill Nicholson, Don Revie, Joe Mercer, Kenny Dalglish, George Graham, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho. Manchester City claimed their first League and FA Cup double—the first time it has been achieved since Chelsea did it under Carlo Ancelotti in 2009-10.
the recognition but we are here to push them,” he said.
“Raheem made an incredible season, he was so strong and he is a huge competitor.”
TROPHY PRESENTATION
Ahead of the trophy presentation, while most of the City squad danced around the pitch among a sea of blue and white tinsel, Guardiola could be seen in earnest discussion with Sterling - and he was not congratulating him.
“The reason why we have done what we have done is Raheem but in the first half, he was not so good,” he said. “He made actions where he should have been quicker and he didn’t pass the ball... You have to push to be better - that’s the only way.”
Looking back at how his team secured t he unprecedented treble, Guardiola was almost in awe of their ability to keep churning out results.
“To have gone 10 months in all competitions and be the first team to do that is incredible,” he said. “It means we have been consistent every three days.”
The one blip on his stunning City CV is his failure to crack Europe. That will be central to his thinking next season but, for now, he was enjoying the good times.
“I love the Champions League but it is more difficult to do what we have done,” he said. LONDON: Vincent Kompany announced on Sunday that he will leave Manchester City after 11 trophy-laden years to become player-manager of Anderlecht.
Belgian defender Kompany joined City in 2008 and made 360 appearances, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and two Community Shields.
The 33-year-old signed off with victory in the FA Cup final on Saturday, where the club captain lifted the trophy after City thrashed Watford 6-0 to complete a domestic treble.
“As overwhelming as it is, the time has come for me to go. And what a season to bow out,” Kompany said.
“I feel nothing but gratefulness. I am grateful to all those who supported me on a special journey, at a very special club.”
Anderlecht is the Belgian club where Kompany began his professional career before joining Hamburg and he admitted he is relishing the chance to move into management.
“I choose to be grateful for the past but remain ambitious and driven for the future. For the next three years, I will take up the role of player-manager of Anderlecht. Belgium’s finest,” he wrote on Facebook.
“This may come as a surprise to you. It’s the most passionate yet rational decision I’ve ever made.”
Kompany was in tears after scoring a dramatic long-range winner in City’s final home game of the season against Leicester on May 6, a result that moved them to the brink of the Premier League title.
Speaking at the time, he hinted his emotional response might have been triggered by a potential departure.
But he waited until the season was over before finally confirming the end of his glorious spell at City.
“I will never forget how all Man City supporters remained loyal to me in good times and especially bad times. Against the odds you have always backed me and inspired me to never give
I choose to be grateful for the past but remain ambitious and driven for the future... I will take up the role of playermanager of Anderlecht. VINCENT KOMPANY, On the move
up,” Kompany said.
“(Club owner) Sheikh Mansour changed my life and that of all the City fans around the world, for that I am forever grateful. A blue nation has arisen and challenged the established order of things, I find that awesome.”
Kompany has been ravaged by injuries in recent years and he featured in only 17 of City’s 38 league games this season because of muscle problems.
However, he will be remembered for his influence on and off the pitch, a contribution that established him as the heartbeat of City’s greatest era.
He led City to a first top-flight title since 1968 in 2012 and goes down as one of the most iconic players in the club’s history.
Along with Sergio Aguero and David Silva, Kompany is one of only three survivors from the 2012 title triumph.
Kompany also paid tribute to his team-mates and manager Pep Guardiola.
“It’s cliche to say it but it’s also so true: without my team-mates, I would have never been here today,” he said.
“We fought many battles together. Side by side. In good times and in bad. So to all of you, from the 2008-2009 squad to today’s domestic treble winners: I owe you guys!
“A special word also to Pep and the backroom staff: you’ve been superb.”