Man City manager Pep Guardiola pays tribute to ‘incredible’ Vincent Kompany – Manchester Evening News

Gepubliceerd op Auteur: koenarchief



https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-vincent-kompany-guardiola-16299016

Pep Guardiola pays tribute to ‘incredible’ Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany announced he will leave Manchester City to become player manager at Anderlecht after 11 years at the club

i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article16293137.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_Manchester-City-Players-And-Fans-Celebrate-Winning-Premier-League-Title.jpg 810w” src=”https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article16293137.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/1_Manchester-City-Players-And-Fans-Celebrate-Winning-Premier-League-Title.jpg” alt=”” content=”https://i2-prod.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/article16293137.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/1_Manchester-City-Players-And-Fans-Celebrate-Winning-Premier-League-Title.jpg” class=”” style=”max-width: 100%; margin: 0.5em auto; display: block; height: auto;”>
Pep Guardiola says Vincent Kompany will be difficult to replace at Manchester City.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says outgoing captain Vincent Kompany will be a big loss to the club – on and off the pitch.

Kompany confirmed he will end his 11-year association with City after leading them to a historic treble this season, and he will take up a new position as player-manager at Anderlecht on a three-year contract.

The inspirational captain has lifted six of his 12 trophies at City under the management of Pep Guardiola in the last three years, of which four came this season.

And Guardiola said the impact of Kompany on City cannot be understated, likening him to some of the club’s greats throughout it’s long history.

Guardiola told City’s official website: “When Vincent was fit, he took such an important role in our team – unfortunately sometimes that couldn’t happen – but whenever he played, he did so with pride, passion and desire.

“This club is what it is because of some of our great former players like Mike Summerbee, Tony Book, Francis Lee and Colin Bell but since Sheikh Mansour took over and Khaldoon became chairman, so came a new era of players who helped change this club’s destiny.

“Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and David Silva – they are incredible players who helped this club take a huge step forward.

“Vincent helped this club achieve so much before I came and when I arrived here, we tried to do it together along with all the other people to try and maintain that position and create new history.”

Reflecting on this season, where Kompany recovered from injury to start the final five games that saw them lift the Premier League and FA Cup, Guardiola added: “His spirit has been incredible; he was so important for us in the final weeks of this season and against Leicester he shot with a real desire to score that goal.”

Looking forward, Guardiola admitted Kompany’s will be hard boots to fill.

“It will be so difficult to replace Vinnie,” he explained.

“Everyone is everyone and have their strengths, but Vincent is special. For all the times he gave a speech to the guys or spoke with passion about something, he believed in, his leaving will be a big loss.

“We will miss him. I will miss him a lot. Of course, I wish him the very best in the next stage of his life, but he is an incredible part of this football club and will remain so forever.”