Vincent Kompany says Manchester City v Chelsea is a must-watch
Sunday 16 August 2015 15:51, UK
Ahead of last season's top two meeting on Super Sunday, Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany tells Sky Sports' Patrick Davison he is relishing the battle ahead - and urges everyone to tune in.
"It's early on in the season but it's a game that matters, it's worth tuning in for and, for us, worth giving everything."
A perfect line for the Sky Sports promo department ahead of a game between - judging by last season's league table - the best two teams in the country.
But not scripted, not just fed to and repeated by a willing footballer. Instead one delivered, entirely off his own bat, by one of the best, if not the best talker in the Premier League.
It's nothing new to say Vincent Kompany is well-educated and articulate, but it's more than that. The City captain speaks honestly, rarely tries to dodge or deflect and - as a fellow journalist put it to me - explores every answer.
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As an example, a question about Monday night's goal celebration at West Brom set him on the path to explaining how - during the struggles of last season - he got, 'carried away' trying to lift the team and help team-mates. It led, at least in part, to the decline in his own performances.
"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't sleep or rest until we get it right or we fix it," said Kompany, now in his eighth season with City.
"I thought, this needs to be different, this needs to be better. I went about it the wrong way.
"You have to learn to put yourself first, make sure you're at your best level and then try to fix things.
"With age and experience, you have to realise not everything is under your control."
Three times picked in the Premier League team of the season, Kompany returned to pre-season early, hungry to rediscover his very best form.
"My aim is to be the best defender in the world, simple as that," he added.
"But the best defender is always part of the best team and all my attention is on influencing that, not just as a player but also as a voice in the dressing room."
Chelsea are the number one team and favourites. They are the best team in the country and still the team to be beat.
In terms of putting things right, City and Kompany made the best possible start. His goal was part of a performance far more convincing than any of the other top sides could deliver on the opening weekend of the Premier League.
Now for Chelsea. The team that wrestled the Premier League title from their grasp all too easily last season.
This time, I'm not sure if it's mind games or more brutal honesty, as Kompany declares Jose Mourinho's side favourites, not necessarily for Sunday, but over the course of the season
"For me, I'm fine saying things as they are: Chelsea are the No 1 team and favourites. They are the best team in the country and still the team to be beaten."
Despite that declaration, Kompany still thinks City were the better team in the two 1-1 draws against the champions last season.
He also expects Mourinho's men to stick with the 'clever' tight defensive game that got them the results they needed in those matches.
Manuel Pellegrini's side were never ahead when the teams met, or in the league table, during the last campaign, but will open up a five-point gap if they win on Sunday.
Kompany played down the importance of an early advantage but, it's fair to say, he relishes these big games more than ever.
"As you get more experienced, you start to realise how special the whole thing is - playing in the Premier League, against the best players in the world," said the 29-year-old.
"Just remembering the feeling you get from beating these sorts of teams makes me prepared to do everything to be right and for us to be the better team.
"I want everything from now until the end of my career to be moments to remember."
With it coming so early in the season, others may have shied away from giving this the big game billing. But not Kompany.
In his quest to restore City to the top of the English game and return to the peak of his powers, this is a game that matters. It's a game worth giving everything for. And, certainly, worth tuning in for.
Watch Manchester City v Chelsea, live on Super Sunday from 3.30pm on Sky Sports 1 HD. Not a subscriber? Get a Sky Sports Pass from NOW TV from just £6.99.
