Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
insisted Vincent Kompany had not
suffered a serious injury setback after
the captain missed Saturday’s goalless
FA Cup draw at Huddersfield Town.
The Belgian centre-back, who has
played just six times this season because
of a series of injury problems, had been
expected to figure against the
Championship side but was not on the
City team-sheet.
Guardiola, however, played down
concerns about Kompany’s fitness,
although it is unclear whether he will
figure in Tuesday’s Champions League
game at home to Monaco.
“Two days ago, he felt something in his
leg. It is not a big, big issue,” said
Guardiola, who stressed he was content
to face Huddersfield again in a last 16-
replay.
“I knew the game that we had to play,”
the Spaniard said. “In the first half we
had our chances, the (Huddersfield)
goalkeeper was brilliant.
“In the second half maybe we played a
bit better but we didn’t create many
chances.
“So many teams in the Premier League
are out (of the FA Cup) and we have
another chance (February 28) at home,
we will try to quality.
“A big compliment to the team, I know
how difficult it is with the pitch, they
are so aggressive, they are so dynamic.
“We will play a replay for the first time
in my life and we will try to qualify,”
the former Barcelona and Bayern
Munich manager added.
– ‘Identities’ –
Guardiola defended his decision to
make eight changes to his starting line-
up for Saturday’s game at the John
Smith’s Stadium, saying the replay will
not affect his plans for a training camp
in Abu Dhabi, where City’s owners are
based, next week.
“With this schedule, with a lot of games,
we have Monaco, they (players) deserve
to play,” Guardiola explained. “We are
coming back on Saturday. We are going
to be two or three days there to see our
chairman.
“By midday we will be in Manchester.
Now our focus is on the Champions
League game.”
Guardiola also refused to comment on
an incident that saw a plastic bottle
thrown from the main stand towards
City substitute Raheem Sterling as he
warmed up.
Meanwhile Huddersfield manager David
Wagner said his second-tier side had
chances to beat City, although he too
was happy with a replay.
“If you ask me did we have some
chances, yes, we had two or three,” he
said. “But City had some very good
opportunities as well and they were the
better team but we shouldn’t be
surprised.
“I am very proud and very happy the
players stuck in their identities. We
tried to play our game. Of course if we
play one of the best teams in the world
they will create some chances.
“We wanted to show we are one of the
fittest teams in the competition and we
are aggressive and brave enough and all
of this we have proved today.
“We now have a rematch. That makes
me happy because I love to see my
players playing matches, one game more
or less, who cares? We are still in the
competition.”
