Vincent Kompany a Manchester City ‘great’

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes captain Vincent Kompany is a “great player” who will prove his critics wrong.

Kompany’s form this season has been the subject of scrutiny with TV pundit Paul Scholes, the former Manchester United player, cutting in his analysis during Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Barcelona.

Centre-back Kompany was criticised for failing to clear a cross that led to Luis Suarez’s opener in the 2-1 defeat and being caught out again for the Uruguayan’s second at the Etihad Stadium.

Kompany also came under fire from other analysts for his role in Arsenal’s first goal in a 2-0 Barclays Premier League loss last month.

But Pellegrini said: “Vincent is an experienced player with a strong character. He must receive the criticism that everyone receives when our team doesn’t have the performance that everyone hopes for.

“I think it’s not a problem for him, I am sure that he will have a strong reaction.”

Asked if the Belgian could still be regarded as one of Europe’s best defenders, Pellegrini said: “I think he is a great player.”

Pellegrini, speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Liverpool, added that he would keep his own thoughts about the individual performances of his players in-house.

The Chilean said that he and the whole team had to take collective responsibility for the Barcelona result.

He said: aid: “I don’t defend the performance of the team — not just Kompany.

“We played moments of the game, the first 25 minutes and all the second half, without any problem.

“But I think the parts of the game that decided the score were because of poor performance from me and from the team — everyone, not just individuals or the skills of just one player.

“I always talk with the players about their level in private. I don’t analyse what they do to the media.”

Kompany, 28, has been a highly influential figure at City in recent years, providing the bedrock for their title successes of 2012 and 2014.

It has also been suggested that his lack of a regular partner this season, with Pellegrini alternating between Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis, might have been disruptive.

Pellegrini does not believe that to be the case, instead pointing out that Kompany did miss most of December with hamstring problems.

He said: “I don’t think so. We work every day in training with different names. The performance of the players doesn’t depend on who they play with. He is coming back from a long injury and it’s not easy for a player coming back to give 100%.”

With Chelsea involved in the Capital One Cup final, City can cut the London side’s lead at the top to two points with a victory in the noon kick-off on Merseyside.

Pellegrini thinks Liverpool’s draining European exploits could give his side an advantage tomorrow.

City should go into the game much fresher, having not played since Tuesday while Liverpool only returned from their Europa League game at Besiktas at approximately 4.30am on Friday.

Pellegrini said: “I think that of course it is an advantage, (but) not a decisive one because I always think the decisive thing is the performance on the day of the game.

“If we think we are going to win that game because Liverpool arrived yesterday night late, that is not the reason.

“But I have played in the Europa League and when you arrive on Friday it is not the best way to prepare for a game on Sunday — but that is the rules. They are playing Europa League. Maybe another time we (will) prepare worse for the game.”

Chelsea remain strong title favourites but City did claw two points back last week and Pellegrini wants to take advantage of their cup distraction this Sunday.

He said: “Of course it is important, and more than psychologically it is important mathematically.

“If we are going to have three points more, we are going to go two points behind Chelsea. It is very important to beat Liverpool and to continue winning in the Premier League, and continue fighting until the end to retain the title. As soon as we close the gap it is better for us.”