Vincent Kompany has endured another injury-hit campaign for Manchester City, but is still managing to show Pep Guardiola why he just cannot give up on him yet.
In a season where Manchester City‘s defense has been the weakest part of the team, Vincent Kompany has been a key miss. Then again, the Belgian always is. Kompany’s injury problems are well documented, and those issues have continued in Pep Guardiola’s first season at the club.
Guardiola was expected to make sweeping changes last summer when he arrived. But instead, gave many in City’s ageing squad a year to prove themselves. Some have done so, many haven’t. Yet while Guardiola has been assessing his players, Kompany has been sidelined much of the time through injury.
The center-back has only played eight games in all competitions so far this season. Is that really long enough for Guardiola to judge him? Everybody knows the Kompany’s quality when he’s fully fit and in form, but he is 31 now.
With his injury history, it’s difficult to rely on Kompany anymore. With an eye towards the future, Guardiola signed John Stones from Everton last summer. Nicolas Otamendi was also already in the squad, whilst Aleksandar Kolarov has also been converted to a center-back this season.
Guardiola is thin in that area of the pitch, and that, partly, is due to Kompany being injured so often. So with a clearout now in pipeline this summer, it has been speculated that Kompany could be deemed surplus to requirements at this stage.
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However, after playing two games recently, it is clear that Guardiola simply cannot give up on Kompany just yet. Even having played only one game in over five months, Kompany still returned with a fantastic performance against Chelsea a few weeks back.
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Then the Manchester City captain went one better with his performance – and goal – against Southampton last weekend. The City defense looked much more assured and confident, and that, in large part, was due to Kompany’s presence.
Guardiola will obviously need to focus on his defense come the summer transfer market. What City need is an experienced leader to play alongside Stones. A player who can play the Guardiola way, but also understands the art of defending.
Somebody who can help direct Stones through games and teach him about positioning and decision-making over the next year or two. What Guardiola needs is a Vincent Kompany. The only problem, though, is that he needs a fit Vincent Kompany.
A Kompany who is constantly on the injury list is no good to anybody. The odds say that the 31-year-old will be spending some time back there come next season. It’s just the reality of the situation.
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Yet, with his recent performances, Kompany has served a timely reminder of just how good he is when fit. Guardiola would still be right to have doubts over the center-back due to his incessant injuries.
But Kompany has shown in just two games why the City boss cannot give up on him just yet.