Title race nerves not a problem, insists Kompany

MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany defiantly insists that title-race nerves are not getting to his team-mates.

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 to rivals Manchester United. City could have returned to the top of the table yesterday, but their failure to see off the Black Cats means United can move five points clear tonight.

The situation might have been even 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 five minutes.

Kompany said: “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.”

City still have to play United in an eagerly-anticipated derby on 30 April but, with just seven games remaining, they now need favours from other teams. They will hope relegation-threatened Blackburn can provide one as they host the champions at Ewood Park tonight.

Kompany will not give up hope even if he does not want to watch United himself. The 25-year-old said: “I don’t really look at United’s games with much interest. The reality is it is not in our hands any more. 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 job when we play them at Eastlands.”

City’s frustration was clear 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 Belgian wanted to downplay 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.”