Manchester City have been handed a huge boost as captain Vincent Kompany is fit and available for selection.
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City face Sunderland on Boxing Day at the Etihad Stadium (Watch live, 10 a.m. ET online via Live Extra) on the back of their 2-1 defeat at title contenders Arsenal on Monday.
Kompany, 29, has missed City’s last eight games in all competitions due to a calf injury, with Manuel Pellegrini’s men conceding 14 goals in that period.
In the eight Premier League games Kompany has played in this season, City have kept seven clean sheets and conceded just one goal. In the nine games Kompany has missed, City have conceded 18 times and kept just one clean sheet.
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Kompany’s importance to the Citizens is highlighted by that stat above and Pellegrini revealed City’s injuries are easing.
There’s no doubt about, Kompany’s leadership at the heart of City’s defense is vital -- with Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi all at sea during the loss to Arsenal -- if they’re going to claw back the six-point deficit on league leaders Leicester City he needs to stay healthy.
Pellegrini knows it but still wants others to step up in Kompany’s absence.
“You are always missing good players. He’s the captain here and, if he doesn’t play, it’s an important player we don’t have in our squad,” Pellegrini said. “But one of the most important things of this team is to be in the all competitions, and not just depending on one player.”
Hate to break it to you Manuel, City’s success is ridiculously dependent on Kompany.