Manchester City vs PSG: Manuel Pellegrini considers Vincent Kompany recall for crucial Champions League tie
Kompany suffered another calf injury in the goalless draw with Dynamo Kiev last month but could return to face PSG on Tuesday
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Your support makes all the difference.Manuel Pellegrini is likely to decide on Monday whether to risk a rapid return to duty for captain Vincent Kompany for Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final decider against Paris Saint-Germain.
Kompany suffered the latest in a painfully long line of calf injuries early in the 0-0 draw at home to Dynamo Kiev just under a month ago which secured City’s place in the last eight of the competition.
The defender was initially not expected to play again this season but has responded to treatment and rehabilitation to put himself in with a chance of facing PSG in one of the biggest games in City’s history.
Two away goals in the 2-2 first-leg draw in Paris has made City favourites to progress and Pellegrini would love the added insurance that Kompany, his leader and best defender, would provide on Tuesday night.
“We will assess him tomorrow and Monday. Sunday will be the first day he will work with the team. It’s difficult but we’ll see,” said the City manager after his side had come from behind to beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Saturday and move within two points of third-placed Arsenal in the Premier League.
“From the moment he starts working with the squad he has a chance but he has not played for about a month. We will wait.
“It’s a difficult decision. I think the easiest decision is for Vincent to play but it’s not easy to know if he really can play, if he is able to play 90 minutes, (if) he is 100 per cent recovered, not to come off in the first 10 minutes. It’s not an easy decision.
“We must test him. We must speak with him. We must do a lot of different things. We must take the correct decision. I always talk with the player. If he’s ready he will want to play.”
Kompany, who turned 30 on Sunday, is thought to consider his likely availability as being touch-and-go as he weighs up short and longer-term targets.
The Belgium FA is seemingly happy enough to leave any decisions on his fitness to their national team captain - who has started just 17 clubs games this season -with the finals of Euro 2016 just around the corner.
But City - and Pellegrini’s - needs are potentially more pressing as they seek to achieve a landmark result and reach the last four of the Champions League for the first time.
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