Bleacherreport.com 11/04/2011
Vincent Kompany is still one of the best defenders in Europe. An off year like this one, marred by nagging injuries, does not diminish his stature in the game.
It feels a bit absurd to have to argue this point, but as recently as last month, you had the English papers running stories about Kompany's own manager casting aspersions about the captain's fitness, per The Guardian.
Later in the month, of course, Mancini's tune was sweeter, as he blew kisses atKompany in the press while attributing City's abortive Premiership defense in part toKompany's absences. (H/T bbc.co.uk.)
"We were without Vinnie for 60 days," said Mancini. "That was very bad for us, like when we lost Yaya for a month for the Africa Cup of Nations."
Does that sound like a manager who thinks Kompany's form is not coming back, or for that matter ever really left?
Recall that City's loss of the derby against Manchester United at the Etihad back in December featured Kompany limping off in the 21st minute.
Not to say the result would have turned out differently had Kompany stayed on, but it's pretty well a certainty he would not have been seen shrinking in the wall on van Persie's winning free kick.
Even with Kompany absent for patches of the schedule thus far, City still boasts the stingiest defense in the Premier League.
On one level, Kompany's injury issues were a blessing to City.
Kompany's woes forced Mancini to find out what he had in Matija Nastasic—unleashing the 20-year-old Serbian defender on an unsuspecting league in the process. Nastasic is now a fixture on the back line and looks to be a serious keeper.
The emergence of Nastasic allowed the side to push through a grueling schedule without significant regression at the back. Simultaneously, it somewhat salvaged what was otherwise a series of swings and misses in the summer transfer market.
Elsewhere at the back, Pablo Zabaleta has had perhaps his best season as a Sky Blue, and Gael Clichy has on balance been excellent. There is little reason to believe that this defensive corps will be significantly different next season with a presumably healthyKompany.
Great players make those around them better, it is said. In Kompany's case, the same could well work in reverse. He figures to be surrounded by so much exceptional defensive talent that he can simply concentrate on doing his job.
Ultimately, though, the reason Manchester City can expect Vincent Kompany to be back to his best next season is because he's Vincent Freaking Kompany.
He is a 27-year-old monster in the middle whose injuries this year blissfully did not include any trouble to his knees or his shoulders. And, thankfully, he does not haveJack Rodwell's hamstrings.
Kompany is also not a problem child (remember Mario Balotelli?) He has been a solid Citizen since his arrival, and he has five more years remaining on his current contract.
If the professional football community in Europe really thought Kompany was at all a question mark, you would not be reading about the likes of Barcelona moving him to the top of the wish list despite his long-term contract with City, per the Daily Mail.
Manchester City is in a prime position to challenge again for the league title—and finally make a decent showing in the Champions League—next season.
A healthy, committed Vincent Kompany will be a centerpiece of that effort.
Just ask him.
Kompany was quoted per The Sun after the derby victory at Old Trafford thus: "The City fightback starts here."
Music to all the Etihad faithful, to be sure.
