Vincent Kompany insists Manchester City have the big-match pedigree to get their Barclays Premier League title defence back on track when they visit Chelsea a week on Saturday.
"We are always liable to kick off a massive run because that's the kind of club that we are"
Vincent Kompany
City are five points behind Jose Mourinho's leaders after a 2-0 home defeat by Arsenal, which prompted manager Manuel Pellegrini to state that the champions’ visit to Stamford Bridgea week on Saturday is decisive to their title defence. Kompany is adamant his side will be raring to go and ready to embrace the challenge of SECURING
three points in London.
three points in London."In theory, it should be better for us now because we will be fired up for that more, definitely," the captain told mcfc.co.uk. "We have always been great in games like this so I'm looking forward to it.
"You want to win, always, so any result that's not a victory you are disappointed. But we've been in situations like this before and it won't affect the way we look at the Premier League. We will just make sure we are better the next game. We are always liable to kick off a massive run because that's the kind of club that we are. Maybe this run has stopped, but the next one should be coming soon, hopefully."
City have already clawed back one big deficit on Chelsea this season, with a run of eight wins and a draw from nine Barclays Premier League matches between late November and New Year's Day helping them to draw level at the top after being eight points behind Jose Mourinho's team.
| BRIDGING THE GAP ON CHELSEA 2014/15 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Team | Pos | Pts | GD | Pts gap |
| 29 Nov | Chelsea | 1 | 33 | 19 | |
| Man City | 3 | 24 | 11 | -9 | |
| 3 Dec | Chelsea | 1 | 36 | 22 | |
| Man City | 2 | 30 | 17 | -6 | |
| 1 Jan | Chelsea | 1 | 46 | 25 | |
| Man City | 2 | 46 | 25 | 0 | |
| 21 Jan | Chelsea | 1 | 52 | 32 | |
| Man City | 2 | 47 | 23 | -5 | |
Fighting pedigree
A 1-1 stalemate at Everton and the damaging defeat by Arsenal means City have plenty of work to do again, but past exploits suggest Pellegrini's men are up to the task.
"If you had said that to us a month ago we would have said, yes we will take it"
Vincent Kompany
City finished with six straight wins to edge out neighbours Man Utd on goal difference three years ago and again came on strongly in the closing stages with five consecutive victories to overhaul Liverpool last season. With several keyplayers just returning from injury and others on the road to recovery, as well as their new signing, Wilfried Bony, due to arrive after the Africa Cup of Nations, Kompany believes City will be well placed to stage another late rally once everyone is fully up to speed.
| BRIDGING THE GAP ON MAN UTD TO WIN 2011/12 TITLE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Team | Pos | Pts | GD | Pts gap |
| 8 Apr | Man Utd | 1 | 79 | 51 | |
| Man City | 2 | 71 | 49 | -8 | |
| 24 Apr | Man Utd | 1 | 83 | 54 | |
| Man City | 2 | 80 | 60 | -3 | |
| 13 May | Man City | 1 | 89 | 64 | |
| Man Utd | 2 | 89 | 56 | 0 | |
The City captain has missed eight Barclays Premier League matches this season and was returning from over a month on the sidelines against Arsenal after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring strain. With extra time to prepare for the crucial Chelsea match, Kompany will be working hard to recapture his sharpness before facing the attacking threat of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Co.
"I want to be back stronger for that match and to be fair, except for the result against Arsenal, it was a good game back," the 28-year-old said. "So going two, three, four games in, it's good for me and I've come back at the right time as well.
| BRIDGING THE GAP ON LIVERPOOL TO WIN 2013/14 TITLE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Team | Pos | Pts | GD | Pts gap |
| 15 Apr | Liverpool | 1 | 77 | 51 | |
| Man City | 3 | 70 | 54 | -7 | |
| 28 Apr | Liverpool | 1 | 80 | 50 | |
| Man City | 3 | 77 | 58 | -3 | |
| 11 May | Man City | 1 | 86 | 65 | |
| Liverpool | 2 | 84 | 51 | +2 | |
"We have the same desire as what I have seen year in, year out and that will never change. We have been without Kun [Sergio Aguero], myself, Yaya [Toure] and David Silva for a long period of time and yet we are still only five points behind Chelsea.
"If you had said that to us a month ago we would have said, yes we will take it. It's good and there are highs and lows – that's what it's all about."
Credit-Premierleague.com
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