Vincent Kompany says Premier League leaders Manchester City need to keep pushing
Tuesday 26 December 2017 23:04, UK
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has warned his team-mates they cannot afford to relax, despite their huge Premier League lead.
City head to Newcastle on Wednesday with a seemingly impregnable 12-point lead at the summit, but Kompany insists the chasing pack should not be written off.
And the Belgium defender pointed out that City themselves overcame an eight-point deficit to claim the title in 2012.
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Kompany said: "I don't know if everyone will remember but it was six games left and we were eight points behind, so that's why I am always the first to come in and say, 'No guys, we can't really take the foot off the gas'.
"I really don't want that.
"We push, we push, we push, and no one has the right to let their performance down or their guard down."
City find themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory out in front, their other recent title win having come when they overhauled Liverpool in the closing stages in 2014.
"It's the first time we have been ahead like this," said Kompany.
"Honestly, I don't feel too much difference, but it's a bit too early to draw any conclusions.
"But I do feel like we have been in much more high-pressure environments, (such as) when we had to play United and we were three points behind.
"Those are the games that are completely different to any others you will play in your life.
"But, at this moment in time, we have got the chance.
"We are in a position where we can just focus on our football, not anything else, and winning the game and having the performance at the same time.
"It's a bit different, but the desire to win is there."
