Kompany wants to become the Premier League’s best defender
Published:Vincent Kompany has set his sights on becoming the best central defender in the Premier League after switching to the position with consummate ease at Manchester City this season.
Kompany operated as an anchor man in the middle of midfield for much of last season, but with Nigel de Jong, Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry all able to also play that role, Roberto Mancini has opted to take advantage of the Belgian’s versatility.
The decision has paid dividends for Mancini, as Kompany’s partnership with Kolo Toure at the heart of the defence has been one of the biggest plus points of their campaign.
Kompany said: “I enjoy being a centre-back because it gets me games. The only reason I am performing well as a centre-back now is because I have been willing to progress.
“If I play centre-half I want to be the best centre half in the league. I want to perform at the top week-in, week-out.”
City have only conceded three goals in their opening seven league outings and this has been instrumental to them reaching second place in the Premier League table ahead of the international break.
This has seen them backed into 7/1 to win the Premier League and their chances will increase further once some of their defensive injuries begin to ease.
Kompany and Toure have had to form bonds with a range of different full-backs already this campaign as injuries have taken their toll and tested the depth of the squad at Eastlands.
New recruits Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov, Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta and Dedryck Boyata have all played at either right or left-back, while Kompany and Toure have been unmoved, alongside goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Manchester City travel to Blackpool next before they host Arsenal at Eastlands. See the full Premier League winners betting odds market.
