Guardiola happy to be patient with returning Vincent Kompany

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The Manchester City captain started his Premier League game in over six-months during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has told ITV that he is happy to be patient with returning captain Vincent Kompany, as the 30-year-old defender attempts to prove his worth following a harrowing spell of recurring injury woes.

Kompany made his first Premier League start in over six-months during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Southampton.

The injury-plagued Sky Blues’ stalwart followed that up by playing the opening 45 minutes of Wednesday night’s EFL Cup clash with fierce-rivals Manchester United, although he asked to be withdrawn at the break, as City went down to a painful 1-0 defeat against Jose Mourinho’s men.

Although fitness issues appear to be the main threat to Kompany’s long-term future at the Etihad Stadium, there have been lingering doubts over the two-time title winners ability to fit into Guardiola’s trademark ball-playing, possession-heavy style of play.

However, the former Barcelona manager has moved to assure the Belgian international that he will be given every chance to prove his worth over the coming months.

Speaking to ITV, Guardiola said: “All the professional players around the world can play in different styles and of course he can in my way and with our ideas.

“He has a contract. So of course (he has a future). What is the problem now about Vincent and the future?

“He is a Man City player and the reason why he didn’t play the last two seasons regularly was because he was injured many, many times.

“We are trying to give him faith to play regularly. When he’s fit he is going to have the same options to play as his team-mates. Then it depends on my decision (about) his quality, performance, everything.”

Guardiola’s encouraging comments will come as a major-boost to Kompany, who was discernibly rusty during his recent outings against Southampton and Manchester United, and the stout-hearted Citizens’ centre-half will be determined to prove that he still has a major role to play under his new manager at the Etihad Stadium, as the Spanish tactician begins laying the seeds for a prolonged period of success in the blue half of Manchester.