Kompany: ‘Injuries have improved me’
IF Vincent Kompany leads out Manchester City this afternoon, it will be the first time this season he’s played four consecutive matches.
The Belgian centre- back’s campaign has been wrecked by calf, knee and groin injuries that had restricted him to just three Premier League appearances by the start of April.
A constant cycle of comeback followed by breakdown led to the concern his career might be over.
But not only does Kompany dismiss that fear, he insists that despite his inactivity he has reaped the benefits of working with Pep Guardiola.
“I’m not worried about breaking down again, though I understand that a lot of people think that way,” he said.
“You don’t come back if you think like that and I’m a naturally positive person.
“I don’t give up and I don’t see the drama in things. I know it is in my hands.
“It has been challenging but it’s not been a wasted season.
“I’ve learned a lot – about myself and about football in general.
“When you’re with a top-class manager you learn and improve.
“The manager has been brilliant with me. Our relationship is really good.
“As far as I’m concerned, the comeback story is gone now and I’m just one of the players
“I’m just enjoying being out on the pitch. It makes a change from the gym!
“I don’t know if I can play three games in a week but in today’s football you have a big squad and it doesn’t really matter if you play every game.
“The important thing is to perform well when you are asked to perform and I trust myself entirely to do that.
“In the summer I’ll give myself a little bit of time off but then I’ll crack on and I’ll be ready for next season.”
Kompany’s last task in what has been a disappointing first season for Guardiola is to ensure City qualify for a seventh consecutive Champions League campaign.
And despite the fact that the Spaniard will finish without a trophy for the first time, his skipper promises the club is on the brink of something special.
“The good thing is that next season is only a few months away and there will be four competitions to play for again,” said Kompany.
“Rarely has there been a season where we have dominated so many of the big games and come out with not enough points.
“It would have been nice to have the distraction of an FA Cup Final but every match has to be a cup final now. We don’t have any margins for mistakes.
“Middlesbrough will be fighting for their lives today and it will be a huge task to win all the games left.
“This season hasn’t been good enough for us but there are still a lot of positives.
“We’re not far off being the real deal and there’s something big brewing here.”