Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City cannot rely on Vincent Kompany’s fitness and will have to buy at least one central defender in the summer to “cover our backs”.
Kompany again performed impressively in the 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Saturday. It was a sixth game in a row without breaking down for the City captain, who has been plagued with injuries over the past few seasons.
Despite this Guardiola is intent on strengthening at centre-back, with the manager mindful of the captain’s poor record of fitness – he has endured 37 injuries in his nine years with the club.
“Hopefully I can be confident about him for next season. I think when he is in that situation [of good form] there is no doubt about that, but we have to cover our backs,” Guardiola said. “We cannot give all our confidence he will be fit because of what we have experienced the last few years. We have to have back-ups if something happens, but of course with Vincent in that form it is good.”
Guardiola is encouraged by the Belgian’s run of matches. “It was a huge step. When we spoke at the beginning of the season we said the first step – don’t put pressure. Be able to train regularly and play one game. After that game, another one, and after that, another one. And he did it and for 90 minutes. And that happened a long, long time ago.
“I’m pretty sure Manuel Pellegrini [Guardiola’s predecessor] missed him a lot the last two seasons – and of course we missed him. He is a real central defender. I said [many] times – central defenders, how many duels do you win with the striker? You have to feel it. When the opponent crosses the ball with Kompany it is: ‘Wow, it’s Vinny there.’
“Maybe you know they are going to score a goal. With Vinny against Arsenal they scored a goal in the six-yard box. OK, that can happen. But you have the feeling when they cross or you cross with a corner or a free-kick you are safe with him there. That feeling of confidence – especially in this league when there are a lot of long balls – it is a really important thing.
“In other leagues it does not happen, it’s important to have people to win duels in the header.
“And against Palace we discovered maybe he can play striker. He made not a bad goal.”
Guardiola was referring to Kompany’s second‑half finish past Wayne Hennessey, Palace’s goalkeeper, struck with utter conviction.
The Belgian has two years left on his contract and indicated he wants to play those out, at the very least. “It felt like it’s too early for me,” Kompany, 31, said of contemplating retirement when being out of action for so long. “Maybe later but for now I want to be where I was against Palace.”
David Silva scored after two minutes before second-half goals from Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolás Otamendi lifted City to 69 points and, prior to Liverpool’s draw with Southampton, third place. Regarding the importance of finishing third and entering next year’s Champions League at the group stage, Guardiola said: “It would be better, of course. It’s important that it’s in our hands. It’s a big battle. In Spain, the two are always the same – Barcelona and Real Madrid. Atlético Madrid and another one can come, but it’s these three or four.
“Here it is six amazing, top teams, and all of them deserve it for their history and quality. You can imagine the season we have played with Chelsea and Liverpool. When you see their teams last season, the good players and managers they had, and they were out of Europe – when that happens you can imagine it can happen to you as well. So that’s why it’s so important to be humble. It’s not easy to achieve that but it’s in our hands. We have two more games at home.”
City host Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion before travelling to Watford on the final day. “Now we will enjoy it a little bit the Palace win and think about Leicester,” Guardiola said. “I know a little bit what they are. Against Palace we play a final and we are going to play in another final in the next game.”
