Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes the recent criticism of Vincent Kompany’s form will only serve to motivate his captain.
The Belgium international has a number of high-profile errors this season after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off. A combination of a lack of match sharpness and regular rotation in defence has seen the centre-half struggle to replicate the form that made him a favourite with City supporters.
He had an evening to forget in midweek asthe Citizens slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona, with the 28-year-old as fault for both of Luis Suarez’s goals at the Etihad Stadium.
However, Pellegrini is refusing to publicly criticise his own players and has backed Kompany to react in a positive manner when City travel to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
“Vincent is an experienced player with a strong character,” said Pellegrini.
“He must receive the criticism that everyone receives when our team doesn’t have the performance that everyone hopes for.”I think it’s not a problem for him, I am surethat he will have a strong reaction.”He added:
“We played moments of the (Champions League) game, the first 25 minutes and all the second half, without any problem.”But I think the parts of the game that decided the score were because of poor performance from me and from the team – everyone, not just individuals or the skills of just one player.
“I always talk with the players about their level in private. I don’t analyse what they do to the media.”