Defensive powerhouse Vincent Kompany insists Manchester City must not rest up ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final with Champions League football yet to be secured for next season.
City face West Bromwich Albion at the Etihad Stadium tonight, and manager Roberto Mancini may be tempted to rest players ahead of the Wembley showdown with Wigan Athletic.
But Belgian defender Kompany – who is unsure whether he will play tonight – urged the Blues to concentrate fully on the task in hand.
“We have to treat it like any other game and try our best to win it,” he told the club website.
“The manager has a lot of options so I’m not sure what team he will start with.
“Until we have secured Champions League football and have enough points to finish in second, we cannot rest.”
The 27-year-old also warned City to watch out for his international team mate Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku has bagged 14 goals for the Baggies on loan from Chelsea this season and Kompany claims the 19-year-old is another rising star of Belgian football.
“We are lucky to have him for our national sides because I believe he is one of the biggest talents in Europe,” Kompany said.
“We have Romelu and Christian Benteke and they are both young and will only get better.
“In fact, if you look at all the Belgian players in England such as Eden Hazard, Simon Mignolet, Mousa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas and Thomas Vermaelen, they are all young – 26 and under – and very talented.
“They will all continue to improve. It is exciting for our country.”
Image courtesy of Manchester City FC, via CityTV, with thanks.
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