BERNARDO’S VIN PLEA
VINCENT KOMPANY had a feeling he would score the goal that has put Manchester City one win away from retaining the Premier League title.
Kompany’s 30-yard stunner secured City a 1-0 win over Leicester, which means victory at Brighton on Sunday will see them crowned champions ahead of title rivals Liverpool.
The Blues’ skipper’s goal was his first of the season and the veteran defender revealed he woke up on the morning of the game, convinced he was going to produce something significant.
“I’ve been playing football long enough now to know that eventually something like this can happen. But to do it in such an important game, it’s special,” said Kompany.
“I can’t really explain, other than it’s just believing in yourself. I woke up this morning and I said, ‘I’m going to do something today.’
“I think it’s a recipe for success – wake up every morning and think ‘I’m going to do something, I’m going to contribute’ and that’s all I did. Your whole life you prepare for these moments and you never know when they’ll come.
“I’ve been playing football since I was six years old and somewhere in me I have these kind of moments. I felt it was my time to contribute.
“Sometimes these things are just meant to happen. I can’t explain.
“I woke up, I wanted it, I believed in it and it happened.” Kompany, out wVINCENT KOMPANY’S Manchester City team-mates are desperate for their inspirational skipper to be handed a new deal.
Kompany showed his value to City with a stunning 25-yard winner against Leicester, which secured a 1-0 win and put Pep Guardiola’s side top of the
Premier League with one game to play. The City of contract this summer and yet to agree a new deal, was tearful during a lap of honour after City’s final home game of the season.
The 33-year-old was accompanied on the pitch by his children, but revealed that they had no idea he had scored such a key goal in the title race.
“I don’t think they know I scored,” added Belgium star Kompany. “I was speaking to them after the game captain, 33, is out of contract this summer and has yet to agree a new deal, but did confirm he will carry on playing next season, whether or not that is with Guardiola’s side.
But midfielder Bernardo Silva (below, with Kompany) said: “He’s one of the biggest players this club has ever seen and I hope he can stay with us a few more years.” and it was like it didn’t seem to affect them too much.”
He also admitted he feared he had ‘done a Steven Gerrard’ when he slipped late on in the game and almost let James Maddison through on goal to equalise.
Gerrard famously slipped in the 2014 run-in, allowing Demba Ba to score for Chelsea as Liverpool went down 2-0 at Anfield en route to losing the title to City.
“It looked like something was going to happen, but I felt I had time still,” said Kompany.
“I wasn’t as nervous as people think, but I did think, ‘Typical, you’re the hero of the game and then you slip and the other ones score a goal.’ but I thought, ‘No, not today, no’.”
Despite City now being in control of the title race, Kompany warned against the danger of believing the job is already done.
“We’re one step closer and we’ve given ourselves a chance going into the final game,” he added.
“We’ve achieved nothing, but we’ve put ourselves in a final. Win against Brighton and we win the league, simple as that.”