INVINCIBLE
Kompany: We used to celebrate 40 points and safety... now we’re edging ahead of United
VINCENT KOMPANY has been at Manchester City long enough to know there was a time when their fans used to celebrate reaching 40 points.
Next August will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belgium defender’s arrival at the Etihad – just 10 days before Sheikh Mansour (below) completed a takeover that has transformed City into major players.
The champagne corks no longer pop once City have done enough to guarantee Premier League safety.
But Kompany is still reluctant to boast that the Blues are the top dogs in Manchester, despite finishing above rivals United in five of the last six seasons.
“A lot has changed at City since I first came to the club – namely that we no longer celebrate once we’ve got 40 points,” laughed the City captain, as he looked ahead to today’s 175th Manchester derby.
“But a shift in power? Well, that’s a debate that started when we beat United in the FA Cup semi-final, in 2011.
“That was when the eager Blues started putting that argument on the table.
“I’d like to see us dominate for another 10 years before we can talk about a shift in power.
“At the moment, I’d say it’s about 55-45 in our favour, based on recent results against United. That isn’t taking anything away from the history that a club like United has, but we can only deal with the here and now. “And, in recent years, we’ve had the edge, although it’s very close.” City had not finished above United in the table for 21 years until Kompany lifted the club’s first title in 44 years, in 2012. But they have been the top club in Manchester in each of the four seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. And Kompany – who picks out “the 6-1” in 2011, with a huge grin, when asked for his favourite derby memory – added: “There was a huge gap left when Ferguson went and it was always going to be the case that, while the other club was rebuilding, we were in the ascendancy.”
But when it is suggested that the team assembled by Pep Guardiola has the potential to become City’s greatest ever, the Belgian’s serious look returns.
“I am reluctant to say there has been a shift in power,” Kompany said. “It is normal that it would take a few years to steady the ship.
“But I am extremely confident of what we’ve got at City – and I don’t ever want to take that away.”