Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Arnesen: I played dumb at the cup final as so few people knew... I couldn’t even tell my son
VINCENT KOMPANY was persuaded to become player-manager of Anderlecht at the most critical stage of Manchester City’s season.
The Belgian club launched an undercover charm offensive to lure him back to his Brussels roots – while was still playing for the Blues.
Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that Anderlecht sporting director Frank Arnesen began his bid to convince the 33-year-old to return to the club that launched his career back in March. With City competing at the time for an historic Quadruple of Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Champions League, the talks were so sensitive that Arnesen kept them secret from his own son, who works for the Blues as a scout.
First contact was made just before Pep Guardiola’s side faced Schalke in the last 16 of the Champions League in March.
And the deal was sealed as City were trying to close out a successful defence of the Premier League title and lift the FA Cup.
Only after Guardiola’s men had clinched an historic domestic Treble by beating Watford 6-0 at Wembley, did the City skipper inform his team-mates he was leaving. Arnesen (below) revealed: “I remember what happened after the FA Cup Final between Watford and Man City.
“I was there – and yet I had to play dumb because so very few people knew Vince was going to leave the club for Anderlecht.
“I could not say a single word to anyone. In fact, even my son Sebastian knew nothing – and he is working as a scout for Man City. I did not want to bring him into a difficult position.
“Initially, I thought it would be difficult to convince Vince to come because the job of a player-manager is really tough for anyone.
He is a top player, but managing a team is a different thing.
“But six days after our decision was made, only in
May, we were sitting down with him and my first question was chucked at him straight away.
“I said, ‘Are you ready for it? I don’t want you to get slaughtered as a manager’. Vincent did not have the slightest doubt and, on the way back to Brussels, I was convinced he was the right man.”
Kompany will be remembered as a City legend for the 11 years he spent at the Etihad.
He helped the Blues win four titles, four League Cups and two FA Cups. But he was also the club’s spiritual leader off the pitch.
City wanted him to remain part of Guardiola’s squad for another year – with a promise that there would be a job for him at the club once he had hung up his boots.
But the Belgian’s head had been turned by Arnesen’s initial approach.
And the admiration became a two-way thing when Kompany gave a tactical explanation of his football vision that reminded Arnesen of the late, great Johan Cruyff.
Arnsen recalled: “Vincent stood there and explained on a whiteboard how he wants his teams to play football.
“Five offensive players, five defenders. He went into detail, with very clear and understandable comments.
“This man has the gift of making things simple for every player when it comes to understanding his football vision. It reminded me of the great analyses of Johan Cruyff at Ajax.
“The only difference was that Cruyff would have a cigarette in his mouth at the time!”
Arnesen added: “I know all the ideas that Vincent has for the club and I am really looking forward to his work as manager here.
“I think he is going to ram a few things into the players and others here. On the pitch, he isn’t bothered about making new friends.
“He needs to give his team-mates strong wake-up calls. The players have to accept that.”