Vincent Kompany: Manchester City can retain title - even if we lose to Liverpool
Vincent Kompany is convinced Manchester City can retain the title - even if they lose to Liverpool on Thursday.
City will fall 10 points behind Liverpool if they lose for the fourth time in their past six league matches against the leaders at the Etihad Stadium.
But Kompany believes Liverpool will have their own blip this season and says the experience of overhauling an eight point deficit with six matches to go against Manchester United in 2011/12 to win the title is a reminder to him that there is no cause for panic whatever happens against Liverpool.
“It's easy for everybody to assume that everything rests on this game. I'm probably one of the only ones that disagrees, for the simple fact that we only had three games that we were below standard,” Kompany said of the defeats to Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester last month. “That's how far we are now.
“It only takes the other teams three games below standard and if we play to our ability, we will be back in. I know how much the Premier League is a tricky league to play in. I want us to win because it gives us a better chance. Any other result, as long as we get back to the team we are, I think we will compete still.
“We overcame eight points in six games in the past. To be honest, I don't live with that scenario in my head, of what happens if we lose. The moment I have to face the situation, at that moment I'll see what the options are.
“I promise you now - when you are 10 points behind, all of a sudden, if there are not many teams between you and first, it only takes one team to start having a bad month and you will be back in.”
Kompany wants City’s young stars to show their true colours and revel in the challenge of trying to haul back Liverpool.
“From the experience the players have been through before, sometimes you can turn it around, sometimes it doesn't happen,” he said. “For the young players, now it's a great opportunity to go through this kind of moment, to show how much quality we have in this team and every player individually has been outstanding in 2018.
“Just now, when you are caught in the corner, you come out fighting. If we come out fighting, even if results don't go the way we want, because you can be lucky or unlucky in football sometimes and in life in general. But if you come out fighting, eventually with the talent we have, we will get back on top of it. Hopefully, with enough time to catch up with Liverpool and to win other trophies as well.”
