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| Vincent Kompany is determined to beat Chelsea |
VINCENT KOMPANY firmly believes Manchester City were superior to champions Chelsea in both of their games last season.
Jose Mourinho’s side ended up with the title by eight points – and that still infuriates City captain Kompany.
The Belgium defender is a perfectionist, someone who has taken the City cause to heart since arriving seven years ago.
Kompany has long been regarded as one of Europe’s most skilled and dominant defenders – but last season hurt badly on two counts. City surrendered their title against Chelsea and Kompany’s form came under scrutiny like never before.
But Kompany believed City displayed more guile and adventure – even though they had to settle for two 1-1 draws in the two league games against the eventual champions.
He said: “We played Chelsea and twice – and we were better than them in the two games. But twice they went away happy because they got the draws – which were the results they needed at the time.
“It would be wrong to say that it was a bad season overall, but when you don’t hit your targets it’s a failed season. Chelsea were much more consistent and It’s why they were strongest. We just couldn’t do that.
“It was a number of things... Stoke at home, Hull at home; these were points we lost that hurt us a lot.”
On his individual performances he admits that the last campaign wasn’t a vintage one for the player who demands the best all the time.
“Until November things were fine but then you get caught by injuries, you come back and need a few games to get back to your level,” he said.
“Then you get another injury and before you know it the season slips away. What you do is deal with it..
“If you went through the whole team and asked them what they thought of their last season no one’s going to be very happy – except Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart who got singled out for their performances.”
It’s why, he suggests that City hit the ground running on Monday with an emphatic 3-0 win at West Brom which included a goal from their captain. His celebrations, hoisting himself up to celebrate with the travelling fans, indicated the frustrations of the past season... and the urge to put it right this time around. Kompany added: “It was the perfect start for us , a difficult away game that teams we’re competing with will lose points against. But now it’s all about Chelsea.
“Looking at how we have drawn in new players and how we have been preparing for this new season everyone is confident because everything is possible.”
Kompany believes that £49million newcomer Raheem Sterling will make things happen for ambitious City. “He’s going to enjoy playing with the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri – players who can pick a pass for you. He just has to make the run and choose his moment.
“He’s shown good signs already. I don’t know why people would have questions about him – we’ll help him achieve the heights he wants.”
Kompany is looking forward to another head to head with Chelsea’s abrasive hit man Diego Costa.
“He’s a special breed of striker. Wayne Rooney has that edge, so does Louis Suarez,” he stated. “They want to use more than just their feet to get their goals but it’s one side of the game I enjoy.
“This is something that I’ve found in the Premier League more than any other league and that is exciting. Playing against those strikers you can never predict the outcome because they’re just so good. If I’m having the best game of my life they can still score a goal. But I can be tough also.”
He is also a big admirer of his Chelsea counterpart John Terry.
“John was written off more than any other defender. It just shows that it is a position where experience can only be beneficial,” Kompany added.
“As to how long I want to carry on? I don’t know. I just know I enjoy it and I’d like to think I’ve done a lot for the club that others haven’t done before.
“City means the world to me and I’d like to think that I’ve shown that on the pitch – every single time, even in the bad times I think we’ve helped to shape a culture at this club.”
That culture is one of winning - something Kompany wants to experience more than anything against Chelsea today.
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