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| Vincent Kompany plays alongside Kevin de Bruyne for Belgium |
VINCENT KOMPANY claims Kevin de Bruyne will justify his huge fee because he is "a special, game-changing player".
The Manchester City captain provided an emphatic response to those who have questioned the wisdom of the club-record £51m fee paid for a player who was regarded not good enough by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho only 20 months ago.
Kompany is in a better position than most to offer a valid judgment because he plays alongside De Bruyne for Belgium and has also played in Germany where the 24-year-old has spectacularly resurrected his career with Wolfsburg and developed into one of Europe's most-sought after young players after his short, frustrating spell at Stamford Bridge.
"He's a tremendous talent," said Kompany. "He's got so many assists and goals in him, it doesn't really matter how the game goes for him, he is always making decisive plays. Over the course of the season that's ultimately what you pay for - more goals, more assists. He's just got something special.
"He's a game-changer. We've got so many but it's a long season, the club is really ambitious and the squad wants to do well, so there's no way that the same team, the same guys, are going to carry the team throughout this whole phase so you need the players."
After their 2-0 victory over Watford, Manuel Pellegrini's team already have an eight-point gap over Chelsea - the difference between the clubs in the title race last season - and on this form it is difficult to see anyone catching them, although the trip to Crystal Palace after the international break will be a key test.
Well-organised Waford kept them at bay in the first half but Pellegrini's half-tme tactical switch, putting David Silva on the right and Rahem Sterling through the middle, broke the deadlock. Silva helped set up Sterling's first goal for the club two minutes after the restart as well as the second for Fernandinho.
Unlike their title rivals, City couldn't be going into the international break in better shape.
Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart 6; Sagna 7, Kompany 7, Mangala 7, Kolarov 7; Toure 7, Fernandinho 7; Navas 5 (Nasri 46, 7), Silva 9 (Delph 74, 5), Sterling 8 (Iheancho 88); Aguero 7. Booked: Kompany. Goals: Sterling 47, Fernandinho 56.
NEXT UP: Crystal Palace (a) Sept 12, PL
Watford (4-3-3): Gomes 7; Nyom 5, Prodl 5, Cathcart 5, Holebas 5; Capoue 5 (Watson 76), Behrami 6, Abdi 5 (Anya 63, 5); Jurado 5, Ighalo 5 (layun 72, 5), Deeney 6. Booked: Nyom, Prodl
NEXT UP: Swansea (h) Sept 12, PL
Referee: M Clattenburg (Teeside)
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