Pep Guardiola is looking forward to watching his Man City defenders fight for places
Saturday 17 September 2016 07:51, UK
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says captain Vincent Kompany will have to fight for his place when he returns to fitness.
The Belgium international has been a hugely influential figure during his time at City and has generally been considered an automatic starter in big matches when fit.
However, the 30-year-old has been on the sidelines since suffering a thigh injury during the Champions League semi-final loss to Real Madrid last season.
Kompany has been sorely missed during previous injury-enforced absences, but John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have performed well in central defence for City this season and Guardiola says he welcomes the selection headache that Kompany's return to fitness will bring.
Asked if it would be tough to pick between his defenders, Guardiola said: "For me, when he's ready, how difficult? Absolutely nothing.
"They have to compete with each other and we'll see on the pitch what is the best for that game. That is the best way to arrive in April or May with a chance to fight to win the titles.
"We need the players competing with each other. They have to know, if they don't play good, that there's another one beside me and the next time he is going to play.
"That's the only way to arrive at the end of the season, fighting.
"I need Vincent because I know his quality. I need him to put pressure on John Stones, Nico Otamendi, (Aleksandar) Kolarov - all of them."
Stones has enjoyed a fine start to his City career since arriving from Everton in the summer and the 22-year-old admits that leading the team is among his ambitions.
"I'd like to be captain one day," said the England man. "Every player wants to be captain of their team and to do so for years to come.
"These are dreams you dream about when you're a little boy. You have to deserve the right to be captain but I'd love to be one day and I'll keep working hard to try to be."
