Kompany: Get used to tug of war
MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany believes that club- versus-country conflicts may become part of his life at the Etihad Stadium.
Kompany returned to the City team for Sunday’s goalless draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford after a spell on the sidelines following injury.
Manuel Pellegrini has denied punishing Kompany for playing for Belgium two weeks ago even though, in the City manager’s eyes at least, he wasn’t fully fit. But the Chilean has stressed he will not pick any player on reputation alone.
And Kompany admitted: ‘It’s always going to be a little bit of a tricky situation. It’s not just with me. They are two very important teams that have different goals and ambitions and it’s just normal that stuff like this happens.
‘I would not have played for Belgium if I was not fit.’
Kompany’s starting appearance on Sunday was his first since City’s opening Champions League tie last month against Juventus, which they lost.
‘I’m a professional so I don’t need anyone giving me any explanation,’ he said. ‘I work hard, always. I’m always positive for the team. Every time I’ve had the chance to put my boots on this term I’ve done very well, with my national team and club. I’m a team player. We all want to achieve the same thing in the end. If other players do well I’m by definition also satisfied.’
Meanwhile, City owner Sheik Mansour has grown frustrated that his huge investment in MLS team New York City has not delivered success. The franchise signed ageing superstars Frank Lampard (£3.9million a year), David Villa (£3.7m) and Andrea Pirlo (£1.3m), but lost half of their 34 league matches, finishing 12 points off a play-off place in the Eastern Conference.
City have instructed scouts to search England for players who can turn the team around after losing faith in signing stars towards the end of their careers.
Sources in America suggest Patrick Vieira, the Premier League club’s head of the elite development squad, could take over as manager.
Current boss Jason Kreis is paid three times what many of his MLS rivals earn and was given 12 months to learn from Pellegrini before the debut season, but Sheik Mansour is demanding changes after a poor campaign.