Kompany rushed back to business

VINCENT Kompany rushed back from holiday in order to win a place in the City’s starting line-up for their Premier League opener against Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola had initially wanted all of his players to have three weeks off following their last involvement in the World Cup, but then suggested he wanted them back whenever they felt ready.

City skipper Kompany was one of a handful of semi-finalists at Russia who chose to only take a fortnight before returning to the Etihad as the rest of the squad returned from their pre-season tour of the United States.

Former defender Rio Ferdinand, on punditry duty for BT at the Community Shield game on Sunday, spoke with Kompany before the game and was surprised the 32-year-old had spent so little time recuperating for a new campaign.

But the Belgian’s answer indicated the group’s hunger for winning has not disappeared over the summer. Said Ferdinand: “He said ‘I’m desperate to get back, I want to be in this team and it’s great to be around the boys.’

“When you’re winning, when you’ve got success in front of you, you can’t wait to be on the training ground.

“If they don’t all want to be here, all want to play, someone will come in and take your place and you’ll have to sit out for weeks.

“It does not bode well for everyone else.”