City axed Kompany for poor form, not fighting

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany was not dropped last week as a result of an alleged dressing room bust-up but instead was axed by Manuel Pellegrini because of his poor form.

Claims emerged this week that the Belgium international was axed for the visit of Leicester last week as a result of a furious row with team-mate Fernandinho — who was not in the squad to face the Foxes — at half-time of their 2-1 defeat at Liverpool the previous Sunday.

Sources at the club played down reports of an altercation between the players which allegedly also involved Pellegrini at some point and it is understood the manager’s team selection for Leicester was not based on anything other than football matters.

Pellegrini said after the win over Leicester it was “important to refresh the team mentally and physically after two difficult games” (against Barcelona and Liverpool).

Kompany’s form has been a cause for concern for City this season as he has failed to reach the standards which made him one of the best centre-backs in Europe a couple years ago.

The defending Premier League champions trail leaders Chelsea by five points, having played one match more and have lost four times — they lost six in the whole of last season — and conceded 27 in 28 games compared to 37 in their title-winning campaign.

Meanwhile City midfielder Frank Lampard believes team-mate David Silva is one of the finest players he has ever played alongside.

Former Chelsea star Lampard said: “I’d put him in the top bracket of the best players I’ve played with in my career. I’ve been fortunate enough to play alongside players like Gianfranco Zola, Arjen Robben and Eden Hazard among others and he’s completely up there with the best.”

Away from Kompany’s trials and tribulations one of the players City hoped would follow in his footsteps Matija Nastasic has committed his future to Schalke. The Serb joined the Bundesliga side in January on loan but the terms of the deal included an option to buy the 21-year-old. Schalke have agreed a contract with the centre-back which will see him sign until June 2019. It will be officially ratified by City in the summer.