KOMPANY GROUSE

Pell fury after skipper played so long for Belgium he has been unable to prepare properly with City

MANUEL PELLEGRINI has warned Vincent Kompany he might not start for Manchester City today because he defied his orders to play for Belgium.

Pellegrini is angry that his skipper played against Israel on Tuesday when he wanted him to return to Manchester to finish rehabilitation from his calf injury.

Kompany was injured a month ago and the City boss claims he needed to do a full week’s training with them rather than appear in Belgium’s final Euro 2016 qualifier.

When asked if Kompany would face Bournemouth, Pellegrini replied tersely: “Tomorrow we will see the starting 11.

“No, I was not pleased because we sent Vincent with a medical report that he was not able to play, but as the manager of Belgium says, he can do what he wants.

“There is not a problem with Vincent. I think that after one month without playing, it was important for Vincent to work for at least one week completely at high intensity.

“He couldn’t do it because he played for Belgium, so he had to recover here Wednesday and Thursday. We will see in the future when he can return to his position.”

Pellegrini’s tough stance is reminiscent of Roberto Mancini’s bust-up with Kompany in March 2013 when he made his comeback from injury for Belgium against his former boss’s wishes.

A source in the Belgium camp says they are mystified by Pellegrini’s criticism and coach Marc Wilmots started the defender against Israel only after he proved his fitness in two full training sessions. It is understood Kompany told Wilmots he was fit to play and the centre-half was desperate to be part of his country’s Euro 2016 qualification party.

Belgium’s medical team have good relations with their counterparts at City and it is believed they told them Wilmots intended to play Kompany for 60 minutes.

Belgium feel they have acted responsibly and point out they could have invoked the FIFA rule barring Kompany from playing today if he had not featured on Tuesday.

Pellegrini claims countries should have the same embargoes when players cannot play for their club due to injury before internationals.

He added: “When you don’t send a player to their national squad, you can’t use them for your club. In the other sense it must be the same way.”