Kompany fired up for Manchester showdown
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is ready for the talking to stop and the action to start in tonight’s blockbusting derby against Manchester United.
Kompany admits there has been no avoiding the hype surrounding the eagerly-anticipated clash of the neighbouring heavyweights, which could settle the destiny of the Barclays Premier League title.
City head into the game at the Etihad Stadium knowing that victory would take them back to the top of the table on goal difference with just two games remaining.
Many have billed the game as the biggest in Premier League history and Kompany is just anxious to get it under way.
The Belgium defender said: “People to bring you back to it a lot.
“I can’t remember meeting anyone in the last three or four days who didn’t talk to me about it.
“But I go back to the reasons why I love football so much and this is one of the reasons.
“It’s not a fear of playing the game, just an eager feeling to get to the stadium and get it started.”
That City are back in title contention seemed unlikely after a defeat at Arsenal three weeks ago left them eight points off the pace.
Since then City have reproduced some of their early-season best form to sweep West Brom, Norwich and Wolves aside while United have faltered against Wigan and Everton.
Yet while City manager Roberto Mancini has continually downplayed his side’s title chances during that period, Kompany has preferred not to even think about the situation.
The 26-year-old said: “I think we did the right thing deciding we were going to just focus on ourselves.
“I know that’s a classic line to come out with, but ultimately, for us, that’s the right thing to do.
“Personally, I’m very neutral. I’ve said to myself since the beginning of the season, whenever I see a competitor play, whether it’s United or Tottenham, I try not to care about their result and to be as neutral as I can, so it doesn’t have any effect on my morale, and just try to be better every game and win all of our games.
“That’s what we’ve done in the past three games.
“Stats speak – and they are facts. That’s why I don’t want to get involved in those mental wars.
“I can tell you now there is nothing in the papers that will have an influence on our performance.”
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