Vinny’s Euro vision
VINCENT Kompany says City have unfinished business in the Champions League ahead of the competition’s group stage draw on Thursday.
The Blues crashed out at the quarter-final stage last season with a 5-1 aggregate score against Liverpool, and Kompany believes his side can progress further this time round.
“I’m looking forward to getting back in the competition for sure,” the City captain told M.E.N. Sport.
“Last year we were ready to do more in the Champions League and we faced a team that was naturally a difficult opponent for us. I think that we’ve got a feeling that we can do better in it this season. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
City ran away with the Premier League last season and lifted the trophy with a record-breaking 100 points.
Pep Guardiola’s side started this season as they left the last with wins against Arsenal and Huddersfield, but lost their 100 per cent start with a draw at Wolves on Saturday.
And Kompany believes the share of the points is evidence of how hard replicating the form of last season will be.
“It’s everyone’s ambition to go that step further but like we’ve seen yesterday [against Wolves], it’s incredibly difficult to keep the standard that high,” the Belgium international added. “Every day we work and every week we work so that we can at least relive some of those moments we lived last season and do better in the Champions League.”
Kompany made his 250th league appearance in City blue at Molineux alongside Aymeric Laporte in the centre of defence, who scored his first goal for the Blues.
The Frenchman was a January recruit from Athletic Bilbao and Kompany believes Laporte’s impressive run in the side shows the high level of competition for places present at the Etihad.
“Competition is everything and ever since I’ve been at City there’s been competition,” he said.
“I think it’s really good for all of us because it keeps everyone wanting to perform and be better not just in games but in training as well.”
The 32-year-old was speaking at City’s annual Cityzens Sunday event, where supporters can see the Blues’ squad up close with an open training session before a family fun day at the City Football Academy.
Kompany says it is the perfect chance for the players to maintain their relationship with the fans.
“There’s so much being made of big clubs not being in touch with fans and these are the ideal days to change that,” he added.