Sport Vincent Kompany annoyed at Pep Guardiola comparisons

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Vincent Kompany has expressed his frustration at constantly being compared to Pep Guardiola, saying his Anderlecht team is 'never going to become Manchester City.'

The former Belgium international defender returned to the club where his career began last year after 11 successful seasons at City, including three playing under Guardiola.

Initially a player-manager, Kompany, 34, took on the Anderlecht head coach role full-time after retiring from professional football in August this year.

© Provided by Daily Mail Vincent Kompany has played down comparisons with his former manager at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, as he embarks on his first season as Anderlecht boss

© Provided by Daily Mail Kompany played for three seasons at Manchester City under their current boss Guardiola

They are currently seventh in the Jupiler Pro League having won five, drawn seven and lost two of their 14 matches so far this season.

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Josep " Pep " Guardiola Sala (Catalan pronunciation: [ʒuˈzɛb ɡwəɾðiˈɔlə]; born 18 January 1971) is a Spanish professional football manager and former player

Vincent Kompany is confident Aymeric Laporte’s long-term absence will not derail Manchester City’s hopes of a third successive Premier League title. The former City captain - who returned to Manchester on Wednesday for his testimonial at the Etihad Stadium - pointed to the success the club has had

Inevitably, the Belgian club's style of play has been scrutinised for suggestions Guardiola's coaching influence has rubbed off on Kompany, something that has annoyed him.

'You have to stop comparing with Guardiola because I didn't come here saying that Anderlecht was going to become Manchester City,' Kompany said in an interview with Eleven Sports.

'I never said it but it will stick to me skin even if I never say it.

'It bothers me that we're getting too close to Pep because it's totally inaccessible. It makes the club look like a naive club, but we are not on the pitch.

© Provided by Daily Mail Kompany's Anderlecht side are seventh in the Belgian Pro League at the moment and played out a goalless draw with Standard Liege at the weekend

'No one is talking about reproducing anything. Pep went to Barcelona to draw from [Johan] Cruyff and the Anderlecht I knew and the academy from which all the players came from draw on Ajax in terms of DNA.

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Pep Guardiola has said he will sit down with Vincent Kompany at the end of the season to decide his future “over a beer”. “We spoke with him and his agent,” Guardiola said. “At the end of the season we are going to talk to him, clearly. He is an incredible human being and he has helped me a lot.

Pre-match press conference with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and captain Vincent Kompany ahead of their Champions League match against Hoffenheim.

'But it's not good for the club to bring this debate back to that and ultimately it doesn't reflect what we're trying to do.

'It's the Anderlecht identity that interests us and that's it. It will be different from other clubs and we have to accept it.'

Kompany added: 'It's always like that in football. When Pep wins everyone will want to play like him.

© Provided by Daily Mail Belgium defender Kompany spent 11 successful seasons at Manchester City up until 2019

© Provided by Daily Mail Kompany is determined to forge his own way in management and not be compared to Pep

'It's like religion, one wants to prove it's right about everything and the other wants to prove it's wrong about everything. There is no absolute truth.

'I know a way of playing and principles that correspond to what Anderlecht has been historically. It should not be forgotten.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola played down concerns over Vincent Kompany after the defender missed the FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town. Captain Kompany was expected to be involved in the goalless draw, but pulled out because of a leg problem.

Pep Guardiola insists he is delighted with his Manchester City squad and may not look to replace Vincent Kompany . The Premier League champions lost their captain this summer, with the Belgian joining Anderlecht as a player-coach. But City look formidable once again, with Guardiola providing

'What will I gain if I ask my players to fall back, throw long ball and create a defensive block? Even if I win the title, my journey is useless.'

Anderlecht, who have won a record 34 Belgian league championships in their history, did not participate in European competition last season for the first time in 56 years.

They sat eighth when the Pro League was curtailed in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic and so didn't quality for Europe once again. It is part of Kompany's brief to restore them to the higher reaches of the table.

Vincent Kompany was speaking to international sports broadcaster Eleven Sports. Eleven Sports Belgium are the domestic rights holders to the Belgian Pro League.