Kompany - No City nerves

Kompany - No City nerves

Vincent Kompany: Manchester City skipper has rejected suggestions nerves are getting to his side

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has rejected suggestions his side are faltering in the final furlongs of the Premier League title race because of nerves.

March proved a costly month for Roberto Mancini's men with a defeat at Swansea and frustrating draws against Stoke and Sunderland handing the initiative firmly to rivals Manchester United.

City could, at least temporarily, have returned to the top of the table on Saturday, but their failure to see off the Black Cats means United could move five points clear on Monday night with victory over Blackburn.

The situatio n might even have been worse had City not at least produced a late rally to snatch a 3-3 draw against the Wearsiders with two goals in the closing stages.

Not nerves

"It is not nerves - there is nobody in the team who has not been in this situation before in another league."
Vincent KompanyQuotes of the week

Kompany said on City TV: "It was not a good performance and we didn't do enough to win the game.

"It is not nerves - there is nobody in the team who has not been in this situation before in another league.

"So, it wasn't nerves, we didn't do enough.

"Ultimately we didn't get beat but I am sure every single person in the stadium will feel as if we are disappointed for this game."

City do still have to play United in an eagerly-anticipated derby at the Etihad Stadium on 30th April but, with just seven games remaining, they now need favours from other teams and will be hoping Blackburn can repeat their shock success over United earlier this season.

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Kompany will not be following the Ewood Park encounter too closely, as he added: "I don't really look at United's games with much interest.

Reality

"The reality is it is not in our hands anymore. For us to get back in the race for the title we need other teams to take points away from United and we (need to) finish the j ob when we play them at Eastlands.

"That is the reality of what is happening now. We will keep believing, definitely. It is just not as easy as it was before."

City's frustration appeared evident when, before their late fightback, striker Mario Balotelli and defender Aleksandar Kolarov argued over who should take a free-kick.

Kompany had to push Balotelli away, but the Belgium international wanted to play down the incident.

He said: "I think ultimately people will always comment and make the wrong opinions.

"It is a passion game, a high-tension game. Ultimately we just wanted to win and score goals. That is what it is all about."