Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that the veteran defender has a future at the Etihad as reports make the rounds that the Spaniard was set to axe the Belgium international when the season ends.
Injury troubles have affected the contributions of Kompany to the Sky Blues this term. The defender played 22 times for City last term but the injuries this season would make any manager uncomfortable.
“He has a contract. So of course,” Guardiola said when asked if the player has a future at the club.
“He was injured many times. We’re trying to give him faith to play,” the manager added, trying to hide his frustrations. The 30-year old player’s game time has seen a steady decline as the seasons come. He played 33 times in the 2014/15 season, four times fewer than the season before. The player has contributed a lot to the City squad since his move from Hamburg in the summer of 2008. His current deal is set to expire in 2019 but the spate of injuries might force City to trade him.
Alexander Kolarov has taken the place of the player in the current set-up. He replaced him in the game at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup. City lost the game by a lone striker from Juan Mata. Kompany made his second start of the season in the game but had to be replaced at half time as he said he was “tired.”
Kompany played a big role to the Premier League triumphs in 2012 and 2014 but the recurrent calf and shin injury worries might force him to end his man City run much earlier than he would want. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the situation would lead to a strain with Guardiola who is under pressure to perform in his first season in charge.