City to build statue in honour of former captain Kompany

Manchester City will honour former captain Vincent Kompany with a statue of the Belgian outside the club’s Etihad stadium.

Kompany missed playing in his City testimonial on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, but was in attendance as the club also named a road at their training base after the centre-back.

“The road connecting the City Football Academy youth and community pitches with the Club’s First Team Centre has been renamed ‘Vincent Kompany Crescent’ and is marked by a mosaic inspired by Vincent’s unforgettable goal-celebration in the 2012 Manchester derby,” City said in a statement.

“At the unveiling, the Chairman (Khaldoon Al Mubarak) revealed to Vincent that the Club has also begun the process of commissioning a sculpture to publicly recognise and celebrate his achievements and contributions to Manchester City. When completed the sculpture will take pride of place outside the Etihad Stadium.”

The 33-year-old left the Premier League champions in May to become player-manager at Anderlecht and, much like the latter half of his City career, was hit by a muscle injury in defeat to Genk last month.

“Unfortunately I could not start or even play. I have a slight hamstring injury and can’t risk it. It’s typical me,” said Kompany.

However, the Belgian international played down his frustration at missing out with the most important goal raising funds for charity.

Current City stars David Silva and Sergio Aguero lined-up alongside the likes of Mario Balotelli in a team managed by Pep Guardiola.

They faced an all-star side littered with former Manchester United greats like Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, but also boasting Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie in attack.

“We are specifically dealing with homelessness in Greater Manchester. You can’t have a successful project without Manchester United involved. We have our differences - that is clear - but if we can get together for these sort of events the city is stronger.”

City failed to replace Kompany in the summer transfer window and are now short at centre-back with Aymeric Laporte facing a lengthy spell out injured.

However, Kompany is confident that Guardiola will ensure Laporte’s absence is not as costly as it seems over the next few months.

“By losing Laporte you lose a big player. You need big players in the bigger games but the key strength of this Manchester City team is relying more on the system than the individuals.

“I don’t see City weakening. Pep is way too aware of this danger to let it happen.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s current squad lacks the maturity required to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s players have potential, former Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger said.

United have won the league 20 times but have not lifted the trophy since Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2012-13, and Wenger suggested the club have a long way to go before attempting to reach the heights they did under his great rival.

“When you see United, they are one of the examples where there’s a potential. But they have not found a collective way,” said Wenger, who is reportedly set to join FIFA in a technical role, told Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Sports.

“Maybe these players are not mature enough to carry the team play of a team like United, altogether. That’s the question mark now. You feel there is something coming out but it’s not ready.

“When you watch them play, they are not a candidate to fight for the championship. Will they emulate what Giggs, Scholes and Beckham did over a number of years? I’m not convinced.”

Former striker Andy Cole said supporters must be patient as United, who were sixth last season, work on plugging the gap to champions Manchester City and Liverpool.

“I believe we’re still a few years away,” Cole, who won five league titles and the 1999 Champions League during six years at Old Trafford, told Sky Sports.

“We’ve got to ... keep bringing in better players and try and improve season by season, because the two teams at the top –– Liverpool and City –– they’re pulling away from everyone.

Agencies