Title favourites? We and United have plenty of Kompany
CITY SKIPPER SAYS THIS YEAR’S PREM CHALLENGE IS TOUGHEST OF THEM ALL
VINCENT KOMPANY has admitted the pressure is on both Manchester clubs to deliver the Premier League title after their summer of crazy spending.
United and City meet in Houston in the early hours of tomorrow in the first Manchester derby outside of the UK, with both sides determined to lay down a marker before the new season. City have spent £135million and that figure could exceed £250m, with the Blues trying to close out several more deals, including a £50m move for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. United have invested £105m in Romelu Lukaku and Victor Lindelof, with Jose Mourinho also likely to take his summer spending past £200m in this window. Against that backdrop, City skipper Kompany admitted both clubs are under more pressure to lift the Premier League trophy next term. United finished last season in sixth place, 24 points adrift of champs Chelsea, while City ended the campaign in third spot, 15 points off the top. Kompany said: “It’s hard to say who are going to be favourites. “More teams than ever can – not just can, but ‘have to’ – claim that they want to be Premier League champions. “The distinction is important. They have to because everybody is investing heavily.” Although the match is a pre-season friendly, Kompany admitted there will always be an edge to games between the Manchester clubs because of their fierce rivalry. “It’s a difficult context because it’s a friendly game, but at the same time it’s a game I never really play as a friendly,” said Kompany. “Hopefully, it will be competitive enough and we will get what we need out of the game, but the fans are right to anticipate it.” Kompany has been a hostage to injury in recent years, but recovered towards the end of last season to start City’s final eight games and he is relishing another trouble-free run.
“The main reason I’m still here is because I never doubted myself, not for one second,” said Kompany.
“Every time I start again, I have the feeling I will never be injured again, so I remain positive and motivated.
“You can’t let fear come into it. I train, I play, and I would prefer to have something really bad happen to me on the pitch, than to change even one per cent who I am and what I do.
“The day this happens, I will shake hands with everyone and say, ‘Thank you for this tremendous experience, that’s it.’ So I remain the same.
“People have to trust my judgment on this. I’ve had too many injuries. I’m not a doctor, but without having the diplomas, I’ve probably come as close as you can get to it. “If you know me, you know that from the moment I raise my hand it’s something, it’s not in my head.”
City are closing in on a £26.5m deal for Real Madrid defender Danilo, 26. Chelsea are also interested in signing the Brazil full-back, who was second-choice at Real last season. But City are confident they have done enough to land him.
They are willing to pay a flat fee with no add-ons, and Danilo is set to become Pep Guardiola’s second defensive signing of the summer after the arrival of Kyle Walker (above).
Guardiola is also hoping to clinch a £42m deal for Monaco left-back Benjamin Mendy, but a move for backup there, in the form of Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand, is looking unlikely.
Danilo could be a City player within the next 48 hours, while the Etihad boss remained coy over his ongoing pursuit of Arsenal forward Sanchez.
“We have a few options in terms of players coming,” said Guardiola (far left). “But until the deal is done, out of respect for the other clubs I cannot say absolutely anything. But it’s one option that we have.
“Alexis is a player from Arsenal. If Arsene Wenger said that, it’s because he knows more than me.
“Unfortunately, the market finishes on August 31. I think that’s a huge mistake from UEFA. The market should finish when we start the season. It’s too long.”