KOMPANY O
<M<IP B@:B# <M<IP >F8C# <M<IP >8D<# We’re ready to win title roars Vincent
BRIGHTON (4-4-1-1): Ryan 6; BRUNO 7, Duffy 6, Dunk 6, Suttner 5, 6; March 6 (Knockaert 77), Propper 5); Stephens 5, Brown 5 (Murphy 24, Gross 6; Hemed 4 (Murray 60, 6). Subs: Maenpaa, Huenemeier, Sidwell, Rosenior. UP NEXT: Leicester (a), Premier League, Saturday. MANCHESTER CITY (3-1-4-2): 6, Ederson 5; Kompany 6, Stones 9, Otamendi 6; Fernandinho 7; WALKER 68, Silva 8, De Bruyne 8, Danilo 6 (Sane Aguero 6); Gabriel Jesus 7 (Sterling 78), 7 (Bernardo Silva, 83). Subs: Bravo, Mangala, Toure, Foden. League, UP NEXT: Everton (h), Premier Monday, August 21. Referee: Michael Oliver 8. game in YOUR TURN: Brighton’s last City in the top division was at home to that day? May 1983. What was the score JUST about everyone reckons Manchester City are favourites to win the Premier League this season.
And, far from bowing under the pressure, the message from skipper Vincent Kompany is: Bring it on.
“The whole reason why we are at the club is to have expectations,” he said.
“Everything comes and goes with victories and results.
“But there is no other place that I would rather be than in the middle of where you have to make it happen every single week.”
Even after dominating Saturday’s opener at newly-promoted Brighton, Kompany and his men will be using a week’s break in Spain to fine-tune.
“We will work hard this week to see if there are things that we can improve,” he said.
“And that drive to always improve is crucial to my career anyway.
“In big teams the pressure comes from demanding from each other and if not, then you are not really a big team, I don’t care who you are.”
Kompany believes that this year’s City can become their best ever.
“I think in the team that played in the first league we won, it was all about big personalities, character and tough guys in the team.
Nightmares
“This team is more about flow and co-ordination. We still need to win something but my feeling is that we have a lot more tools we can use.”
While their title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool were having defensive nightmares, Kompany was coolly marshalling City’s new-look back three to deny the Seagulls even the sniff of a goal.
“It’s important as there were some chaotic starts for some other teams and it just raises unnecessary question marks early doors,” he said. “Probably ours won’t be the most talked-about game but for us it’s perfect because we can just move on to the next game, job done, and a lot of lads have put in a good performance.”
Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva ran the midfield, while Kyle Walker and Danilo ran Brighton ragged.
The Seagulls defended doggedly until Sergio Aguero broke their resistance after 70 minutes and Lewis Dunk’s own goal five minutes later killed them off.
Brighton had few chances to get forward but some touches from England Under-21 winger Solly March hinted at better things to come.
“There’s no point in fearing anyone or any teams,” said March. “Just play your natural game and hopefully we can get points next week at Leicester.
“We were up against it for most of the time, but we’re not going to be playing teams like them every week.”