Player Focus: Kompany's Spell on the Sidelines Reinforces City Importance
A 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday will have come as a relief to Manchester City in their title hunt. Manuel Pellegrini’s side had undergone a worrying downturn in form, failing to win any of the previous three competitive games, including a disappointing 4-1 thumping at the hands of Liverpool on home soil. Pellegrini’s questionable team selection hogged the limelight following the full time whistle, though that is not to take anything away from the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp adopts a high-pressing system and this played into the hands Liverpool as they were able to cut through City at a whim. The decision to play the aging Yaya Toure in a deeper-lying midfield role meant the hosts struggled to contain the Reds, who blitzed the Premier League title favourites in the opening 45 minutes. As expected, Toure was hauled off at half time, along with Jesus Navas, with Fabian Delph and Fernandinho introduced to provide more protection to a defence that was expected to struggle from the off.
Not only that, but Pellegrini was chastised for his decision to field a centre-back partnership of Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala. The duo have proven far from convincing even alongside one of Vincent Kompany or Nicolas Otamendi, so together was a recipe for disaster. Within 32 first-half minutes it proved to be the case. City have conceded just 10 league goals in eight home games this season, four of which came against Liverpool.
Only City’s Chilean boss knows the reasons as to why Otamendi didn’t start at the back, particularly with the Argentine emerging as a key member in the City start following a rocky start to life in England. Yet, the loss to the Reds only went on to highlight just how important Kompany is to City. After a wholly disappointing season for the Citizens, the Belgian looks back to his dominating best at the heart of the Premier League table toppers’ backline.
Without his presence in the side, City look lost as to how they counter the threat of the opposition attack and devoid of any organisation and leadership. It’s no coincidence that the club’s three league defeats of the season have come when Kompany has been sidelined through injury. Meanwhile, of the eight league games he has started this season, City have won six, drawing the other two. Clearly, City are a far more organised side with Kompany in the team, of that there is no doubt.
His leadership qualities can’t be measured by stats, but the lack of structure in defence resonates throughout the team when he is not in the side, as proven by City’s performances both with and without him this season. A WhoScored rating of 7.39 is the fourth best of all City players this campaign and the defender’s second best in the Premier League in the last seven league seasons.
When he doesn’t feature, though, City struggle to contain the opposition threat. Without the captain marshalling the backline, Joe Hart is often left exposed and while this wasn’t an issue in the 3-1 win over Southampton - that in part due to Graziano Pelle’s enforced absence - it’s indeed a concern in the club’s quest to land their third Premier League title. Yet, when he has been available, City are a far more solid side, reinforced in that they have conceded just one goal from his eight league starts this term.
Of those to make at least five Premier League appearances this season only Laurent Koscielny (5.8) and Mamadou Sakho (5.6) are winning possession in the defensive third more times per game than Kompany (4.9). Given only Manchester United (57.3%) and Arsenal (57.2%) are averaging more possession than City (55.7%) in England’s top tier this term, his proactivity in the defensive third is a benefit to the team when they are under pressure. Furthermore, this helps the Citizens instigate quick counter attacks.
With Pellegrini able to call on the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, a swift transition from defence to attack is crucial and made possible by Kompany’s commendable awareness of his surroundings and impressive ability to read the game. Meanwhile, he, like the rest of the City backline, are comfortable when it comes to playing the ball out from the back. Of the 10 players to average the most passes per game for City in the Premier League this season, six are defenders. Kompany (52.9) of course features in that list.
His ill-discipline remains a concern - of City players, Kompany’s three yellow cards in the league is the third most - while is insistence on charging out from the back means City can be left light if he is caught out of position. However, the latter is something that is becoming less frequent with age.
Nevertheless, his absence from the starting XI further highlights how important he remains to the club. While his displays were questionable last season, further denting the club’s title hopes, this term Kompany looks to be returning to his best form. With Silva set to return to the fray, Pellegrini's next target should be to resolve Kompany's fitness problems with the Premier League title there for the taking.
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