by Kompany a City legend – Pep
Manchester City welcome former captain Vincent Kompany, who will take charge of Burnley tonight in the FA Cup quarter-final. Kompany’s men should be a good test for City as The Clarets under the Belgian have revived in the Championship this season. They are 13 points clear at the top of the table and have both the best offense and the best defense in the second tier.
Pep Guardiola’s men enter the game in exceptional form. They are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions and stormed into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 7-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in their final appearance. Erling Haaland scored five in that match but is unlikely to start today as City’s team depth means the likes of Phil Foden, John Stones and Julian Alvarez should be in the starting line-up.
In the last meeting between these teams, City came out 2-0 as the winner in April last year. They go into the game as firm favourites, but will be careful not to underestimate Burnley, with Kompany returning to his old home to try and beat the team he captained to four Premier League titles and two FA Cup victories.
Follow all the action from the FA Cup quarter-finals as Man City host Burnley:
Man City vs Burnley Lineup
Manchester City XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Lewis, Rodrigo, De Bruyne (C), Mahrez, Alvarez, Foden, Haaland
Burnley XI: Peacock-Farrell, Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Maatsen, Cullen, Gudmundsson, Tella, Zaroury, Vitinho, Foster
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:48 PM
One game away from Wembley
Can Burnley City shock and set up a semi-final at Wembley?
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:40 PM
Kompany wants Guardiola to stay at City
Vincent Kompany has spoken out about his old manager Pep Guardiola ahead of Man City v Burnley in the FA Cup this afternoon.
Kompany said he wants Guardiola to stay at Man City for as long as possible.
“In the end, Pep has proven that because of his record and the dominance in his performance, he is one of the best managers there has ever been,” explained Kompany.
“I am no different than any player who has ever played for him. You draw from what made him so good and take them into your career as a coach, but you also draw from other people’s things.
“Pep has an incredible understanding of space and the details of entering those spaces and using them efficiently.
“But other managers, like Roberto Mancini, were incredible with the defense and desire for clean sheets and Manuel Pellegrini was freer and more attacking, so I would have taken from those people too.
“I think first and foremost he (Pep) should stay at Manchester City for another 10 years. City are competing to win the Champions League, while we are fighting for the championship, so I don’t think these kinds of talks (as potential future City boss) make sense.
“They must have the best manager in the world.”
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:35 PM
Why Gary Lineker won’t be on Match of the Day tonight
But despite Lineker’s recovery on Monday, the star presenter will not host the highlights show on Saturday night.
However, viewers will be relieved to learn that Lineker’s absence has nothing to do with the recent dispute with BBC bosses – and he will still appear on BBC One on Saturday afternoon.
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:30 PM
Kompany’s impact on Burnley
Vincent Kompany replaced Sean Dyche as Burnley manager and has completely changed the composition of the team. They are now a dynamic, fluid and aggressive team in stark contrast to Dyche’s skilled defensive side.
Kompany’s Burnley has scored 74 goals in 37 league games this season, conceding just 29. They have only lost twice in the championship and not since November 5.
Can Kompany lead them to victory today? His last game as Manchester City captain was the club’s win in the 2019 FA Cup Final over Watford, so he enjoys this competition in the past.
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:25 PM
Guardiola on Kompany
“He was an incredible figure here. He’s one of the greatest legends I’ve had,” Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said of Vincent Kompany.
“But I’m a little worried because when you start playing a game against a player you had on the sidelines, you realize how old you’re getting!”
(AP)
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:20 PM
Route to the quarterfinals
Watch how Manchester City reached the FA Cup quarter-finals this season:
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:15 PM
Vincent Kompany wants to ensure his first meeting with Man City is just the start of Burnley’s revival
Perhaps it was an attempt at mind games, perhaps an attempt to anoint his successor or possibly just praise a manager who has transformed a seemingly dying club with a kind of football that invites comparisons to his own. Anyway, Pep Guardiola had reiterated his view that it is Vincent Kompany’s destiny to become Manchester City manager. “He needs to stop saying that,” smiled City’s best captain. “I am a Championship manager.” Not for much longer, granted, with Burnley taking three wins from promotion.
They have been reinvented and rejuvenated under Kompany. An FA Cup tie at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday is his first competitive visit to his former club since leaving in 2019 to manage Anderlecht, but he wants to make sure it isn’t seen as the start of a more permanent return . “I think first and foremost Pep should stay at Manchester City for another ten years,” he said. “City are fighting for the Champions League and we are fighting for the championship, so I don’t think these kinds of conversations are useful.”
Kompany was quick to emphasize the different worlds they occupy. There is a managerial pedigree of Guardiola protégés, with Mikel Arteta on course to win the Premier League and Xavi La Liga this season and Kompany said: “Pep has always remained very communicative with ex-players who have gone to the other side. “
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:10 PM
Kompany against Manchester City
Vincent Kompany returns to Manchester City this afternoon as Burnley boss and has spoken about how the club has changed since he left in 2019.
“I think it’s undeniable that City as a football brand are now an incredible example of how to do it right,” said Kompany. “I think the biggest challenge over time has been establishing that kind of identity, that new identity.
“The club is a monster now, it’s a machine, it’s huge. So to be there from the start and see how it evolved from there has been a really good journey.
“(Playing City at the Etihad) it’s the toughest challenge anyone can have.
“In my opinion it’s the top five hardest challenges anyone can have – away from home at the Etihad, Anfield, Nou Camp, Bernabeu. These are dominant places where they are used to winning.”
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:05 PM
Manchester City vs Burnley Prediction
With both sides in excellent form lately, a lot could depend on the kind of side City manager Pep Guardiola chooses.
He will take care not to underestimate Burnley, but is likely to call a much-changed team with his side still chasing the Premier League and Champions League trophies.
Even with substitutions, the likes of Phil Foden and Riyadh Mahrez will form the basis of a side that will surely be too strong for a Championship club abroad.
Man City 3-0 Burnley
Michael JonesMarch 18, 2023 4:00 PM
