Kompany: Hazard is a pest ... I hope he is ill
GIVEN the current issues affecting Chelsea’s medical department, Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany chose an opportune moment to wish a stomach upset on his Belgium compatriot Eden Hazard ahead of today’s clash between the two title favourites.
Kompany joked when he said he hoped Hazard would miss the game at the Etihad, such is the impact that English football’s reigning Player of the Year had on Jose Mourinho’s team succeeding City as champions in May.
Nothing will be decided by the second game of the season, but the importance of victory cannot be understated, and Kompany realises the threat posed by Chelsea’s danger man.
“You’d almost hope that Eden Hazard would have diarrhoea,” he said. “You can’t underestimate the impact he has on Chelsea.”
Against Swansea when Chelsea were reduced to 10 men, he was the one who was dangerous because he ran past three or four defenders. You can have as many tactical plans as you want, if Eden starts running, it’s chaos.
“Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are stats animals. But Eden has made so much progress that it is possible he will reach their level.”
City have an explosive threat of their own in Raheem Sterling, having eclipsed any interest from Chelsea in the England star this summer by agreeing a £49m fee with Liverpool.
Some have questioned the price tag, but City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes Sterling will prove his worth in big games like this.
“I think that he will be a very dangerous player,” said Pellegrini.
“Maybe we were criticised for the amount we paid for him, but I am sure he will demonstrate during the year, especially against the big teams, why his valuation was so high.
“Here he will play with David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, players that will make him improve in a lot of ways.”
Victory would take City five points clear of their rivals, but Pellegrini added: “We are not thinking about the title in the second game. But to beat an important team like Chelsea, it always gives you more trust in what you are doing, and the chance to make a gap from the beginning.”
The City boss was not in the mood to fuel his rivalry with Mourinho after claiming during the summer that the Chelsea manager liked to bask in the success of his team.
Asked if he would shake Mourinho’s hand, having failed to do so following a defeat at Stamford Bridge in October 2013, Pellegrini replied: “As always, I said the first day I arrived here, I have my differences with him. But I always shake hands with him.”
Meanwhile Adnan Januzaj, one of the bright young talents of world football, said he wanted to stay and fight for a place at Manchester United after his goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Friday.
While manager Louis van Gaal hailed his Premier League match-winner as “wonderful”, the rest of the Belgium forward’s performance was damned with faint praise by the hard Dutch taskmaster.
Januzaj, whose star has waned at Old Trafford since he burst on to the scene as one of the game’s young diamonds, has been linked in the media with a loan move to Sunderland.
After the 29th-minute goal at Villa Park showcased his exceptional skill and cool head in front of goal, the 20year-old said his wish was to continue to prove his worth to Van Gaal.
Asked about the potential loan move, Januzaj said: “It was only rumours. I’m happy here and, of course, I’m going to fight for my place. It’s feeling good to have scored a goal because I haven’t had a game for a long time, so my fitness is not so good. I hope to have more games in my legs and score more goals.”
Van Gaal said the youngster had impressed enough during training to earn a chance in his preferred role as a “number 10”.
The Dutchman was also pleased to hear Januzaj wanted to battle for a place, but warned: “It also has to be he is showing that, of course.
“He scored a wonderful goal, but all the other aspects of football, you have to show them also,” Van Gaal said.
“I’m very pleased that because of this goal we have won, but there is more than only making a goal.
“He also had a lot of ball losses, in my opinion, unnecessarily. Memphis Depay had a lot of unnecessary ball losses. That’s why we don’t create too many chances, and we have to improve that.” – Daily Mail and Reuters