Pep Guardiola praises ex-captain Vincent Kompany after Man City beat Burnley in Premier League

LONDON – Pep Guardiola heaped praise on his Burnley counterpart Vincent Kompany following Manchester City’s 3-1 Premier League victory on Jan 31, suggesting the latter will one day be in charge at the Etihad Stadium.

Two goals by birthday boy Julian Alvarez and a Rodri strike gave City a comfortable win, as they welcomed key players Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones back into the starting line-up.

Champions City are second in the Premier League table, five points behind Liverpool (51) with a game in hand. The Reds thrashed Chelsea 4-1 to maintain their lead.

There was a tribute to Burnley manager Kompany before the match in recognition of the former City defender’s 11-year stay at the club during which he made 360 appearances.

“Vinny sooner or later will finish here,” Guardiola said of the 37-year-old Belgian.

“I have the feeling he will finish here. He is already a big manager, what he did last season with Burnley. You can see the ideas they have, the way they try to defend. I like what he does.”

City were, however, never troubled despite a late consolation goal for Burnley’s Ameen Al-Dakhil. “Today the game was not close,” added Guardiola, who felt that his team could have done better nonetheless.

“There are games with this score that feel closer, this was not. We had players who have less control than usual, we just had more runners, more speed.

“Burnley is not an easy team to face, they never give up. Today, we won because of the quality of players we have, not because we controlled everything or we were better at all aspects.”

The return of de Bruyne to the starting side for the first time since the opening day of the season, ironically also against Burnley, was welcomed by City’s Spanish boss.

“It’s a long time, five months, he didn’t play. He comes back with energy. He played really, really good. Him and Erling (Haaland) are going to help us in this part of the season,” Guardiola said.

Star striker Haaland came off the bench for the last 20 minutes, marking the Norwegian hotshot’s return from a foot injury that had sidelined him since Dec 6.

The 24-year-old Alvarez’s goals – 15 in all competitions, including seven in his last seven appearances – have covered more than adequately during Haaland’s absence. But the latter will add another level of menace to the treble winners as they try to overhaul Liverpool and win a fourth successive title.

Kompany, meanwhile, took positives from his team's performance.

“We have to look at the easy goals we conceded but also the chances we created,” he said.

“I thought we looked after the ball ever so well. Every time we had the ball we looked threatening. When we defended, we have to defend better.” REUTERS, AFP