‘It’s been a steep learning curve under Guardiola’
CITY players felt that Pep Guardiola was ‘speaking Chinese’ when he first expounded his radical football philosophy on the training ground.
But 18 months on, after they picked up the first silverware under the Catalan coach, skipper Vincent Kompany likened working under Guardiola to an education at a prime football university!
“It’s like doing ten years of studying – it’s incredible. I compare it with going to university. That’s the level,” Kompany told Talksport.
“We never stop learning, every single day. But the great thing is that you see that you evolve so fast that after a while you get to predict a little bit what he wants and what he’s going to say.
“A year-and-a-half ago it was like he was speaking Chinese to us, and it’s great to evolve in that way.”
But what makes Guardiola stand out as a manager? Kompany expresses it with his usual eloquence.
“The best way he’s ever been described is by just saying he’s intense, and relentless. You never feel satisfaction – I’m sure even today we’ll be back at it and focussing on the next game,” said the skipper.
“Whether it’s Wigan or Arsenal, it doesn’t really matter in the way we prepare for games and what he gives us is an incredible amount of knowledge that he shares.
“He is really good at delivering his message as well, and then we just have to apply it.
“We always feel we have got an advantage on other teams just because he has been very precise with the information, and what he wants us to do.” VINCENT Kompany says the spirit of Manchester has inspired his personal triumph against adversity.
The City skipper has been written off many times – but he points out that so have the Blues, and so has the city itself after being repeatedly bombed, deprived and denigrated.
Kompany scored a vital goal as City won the Carabao Cup at Wembley, and in an interview with Talksport he said his latest triumph – after three years of injury woe – was typical of City, and of the city.
“With coming back from injuries, if you look at the history of Manchester City and of the people in Manchester in general, we always fall and we always get up,” he said.
“That’s the way people like it, so I am in the right place to go through a journey like mine.
“When I came to Manchester, my very first experience with the locals was that I fitted right in with the way people are here – they’re a bit tough, a bit more direct and straightforward, and that suits me as a person.
“But the club has gone through hell, before my time and a little bit when I was there at the beginning, and to be able to deliver these kind of moments to these fans … people don’t appreciate how much of a journey it’s been for these guys who were at Wembley.
“It’s a great feeling and I want it to last.
“What you saw was what I felt. I enjoy being part of this team and I hope that until the last minute of my career I can enjoy it like I did yesterday.
“It was an unbelievable experience.”
Kompany has suffered a series of muscle injuries which have constantly interrupted career in recent years, and have led many to doubt whether he could ever piece together again. The intensity and impatience that is part of Guardiola’s make-up has added to that feeling, but Kompany is just living for the day and eking as much out of his career as he can. “When it all comes together, it’s one of those things when you want to tell every young player that you just have to hang in there,” he said. “Every minute of hard work is worth it if you’re able to have even one shot of what we had yesterday. “I hope I’ll be remembered for a lot more than my injuries over the years, but in many ways this season has been great, even for me. “I’ve learned so much and I’ve been able to be a part of everything that has been done. It’s not all about what I can deliver on the pitch.” Vincent Kompany it