Vincent Kompany confident City can win Champions League

Vincent Kompany believes Manchester City have arrived in the Champions League, and has backed the club to win European football’s greatest prize.

While manager Pep Guardiola has remained cautious about City’s prospects since taking over last season, citing the club’s lack of history in Europe, Kompany was in bullish mood ahead of the last 16 clash with Basle in Switzerland on Tuesday night.

‘Things have changed,’ said the City captain who has not played in the Champions League sine City lost to Real Madrid in the semi-final in May 2016.

Vincent Kompany believes Manchester City are close to winning the Champions League

‘If there is a year, a moment when the club is ready to feel at home, then it’s now. I’m not going to say it’s a matter of time – some clubs never win it – but if every year we can go with this kind of confidence, then if not this year or next year, eventually we’ll get there. I’m sure of it.

‘In previous years we’ve felt how difficult it is. We are trying to break into a well established order – Barcelona, Bayern, Real Madrid. Any team who has tried it over the last 10 years has failed. 

‘First, it’s Basle, then getting to the stage where we can measure ourselves against these teams and feel like we can beat them.’ 

Sergio Aguero scored four against Leicester as City look set to win the Premier League 

Sergio Aguero scored four against Leicester as City look set to win the Premier League 

Raheem Sterling is in fine form and the club are well on their way to winning multiple trophies

Raheem Sterling is in fine form and the club are well on their way to winning multiple trophies

City are 16 points clear in the Premier League, in the Carabao Cup final and the fifth round of the FA Cup, but Kompany insisted that the players are not talking about a quadruple.

‘No, not at all,’ he added. ‘I can honestly say, the key thing I’ve noticed is the ability to switch back on for every game. Motivation, respect for opponents, to make sure we are 100 per cent. 

‘I’ve not experienced it in any team I’ve been in before. Quadruple talk – there’s been none – but winning the next game and the next one, always.

‘I don’t really make a distinction between Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, we have to win the game. It’s a balance between not under-estimating the smaller teams and not over-estimating the bigger teams.’ 

However, Kompany dismisses talk of winning a quadruple as City prepare for Basle on Tuesday

However, Kompany dismisses talk of winning a quadruple as City prepare for Basle on Tuesday

Asked to compare this City team with the others he has played in, Kompany said: ‘We’ll have to compare at the end of the season and next. I’d like to believe we are going to win the Premier League and will be successful, but my personal feeling is who is going to be more motivated to win even more next year. That would make a big difference in how I would judge it.

‘From game to game, I’ve never experienced this focus and intensity and motivation throughout the team. I can speak for that. But in terms of achievements, nothing yet.’ 



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