HE’S IN IT TO VIN IT
Star demands City show ambition and become ‘special’
VINCENT KOMPANY is on the brink of winning his third title medal with Manchester City – but the Belgian insists this one must be the start of something really special.
Kompany – a champion in 2012 and 2014 – reckons the next step for Pep Guardiola’s men must be to defend the trophy again and again.
The City skipper is taking nothing for granted – even if the Blues now need just five victories from their final 10 games to clinch the Premier League.
He said: “If we do end up winning the title this season, then I will be the first one in the dressing room to emphasise how we approach next season.
“I have seen it before when we have won. When you come back, there is an edge missing.
“That’s why it is so difficult to retain titles – and why we have to be special this time.
“If we do end up winning the title – and I am still saying ‘if ’ out of respect to the other teams – then watch me in pre-season.
“I will be looking in people’s eyes to see if they have the same intensity. In the past, when we have won the title, that intensity has been missing the next year.
“We have got to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Even for a player who has spent almost a decade with City during their most successful era, this has been a memorable week.
Kompany’s goal in the 3-0 Carabao Cup Final victory over Arsenal last Sunday sparked a Wembley celebration.
And, after returning to London to beat the Gunners by the same score in the Premier League on Thursday night, City today face champions Chelsea at the Etihad.
Kompany said: “This has been a special week. But do you know what? This team has enjoyed a lot of special weeks this season.
“For me, I have played well, I have lifted a trophy, scored a goal at Wembley and I’ve enjoyed it so much. “But I can’t remember the last time I have looked at this team and thought, ‘We have played badly today’.
“You can’t wish for anything better in football than this. With every day that goes by, you just want to hold on to this special feeling that little bit longer.
“Now we’ve got Chelsea – and what a great way it would be to finish this special week if we can maintain our performance level.”
City are set to land the title in record-breaking style.
But Kompany added: “I was asking in the shower, ‘How many games left, lads?’ – and no one knew the answer.
“That shows how much we are not thinking about things like breaking records.
“Getting record points and record goals isn’t in our minds.
“Just winning the next game.”