Jinxed Vincent Kompany sidelined for 35th time in Man City career
Kompany was substituted after a collision with goalkeeper Claudio Bravo during the first half of Saturday’s Premier League victory at Crystal Palace.
The 30-year-old suffered a concussion in the clash but manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the knee injury sustained in the same incident is now of greater concern.
“He is injured, he will be out for the next weeks,” said Guardiola at a press conference in Dusseldorf ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach.
It is Kompany’s 35th separate injury problem since he joined the club in 2008 and the third to have affected him this season.
He missed the start of the campaign with a thigh problem picked up against Real Madrid in May and then suffered a groin injury on his comeback at Swansea in September.
Since then he has been trying to ease himself back into action but this latest injury in only his fifth appearance of the season is yet another unfortunate setback.
Guardiola said: “Fortunately there is nothing wrong with the head but the real problem is with the knee. He could be out for weeks. He is sad and I am sad because it is a long time he doesn’t play.”
Guardiola confirmed Kompany will receive treatment from Barcelona-based specialist Dr Ramon Cugat, who also advised on the defender’s previous problem.
He said: “He is in the best hands so he can recover as soon as possible. He will make the best treatment possible.”
Guardiola was asked to clarify how long Kompany could be out for but was unable to specify a length of time.
He said: “The doctor told me weeks but didn’t explain how many. We’ll see. It is ligaments.”
Meanwhile, coach Andre Schubert believes Monchengladbach have proved they belong at Champions League level — but accepts Europa League qualification may now be their aim.
The Germans need to beat City at Borussia Park to retain realistic hope of progressing — and even then would be reliant on other results — but a draw would ensure a tilt at the Europa League.
Schubert, whose side were beaten 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium in September, said: “We’re not going to try and pull something extraordinary out of the hat. It’s about looking to contain Man City as best we can. We’re focusing on our strengths and how we can seize our opportunity.
“We are playing against one of the best teams, with the potential to get to the semi-finals or the final of the Champions League. We’re huge underdogs going into this game, we’re aware of that.
“However, I remember people saying after last season’s 3-0 defeat to Sevilla that Borussia Monchengladbach didn’t belong anywhere near the Champions League. Now I think people see us at a similar level to them.
“We’ve had some very difficult games in the group, and none of them have been clear cut. We are trying to winter at a good level and play in the Europa League — that is our aim.”
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