Kompany: City have long-term strategy

Posted Monday, September 08, 2014 by Foxsports.com

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is confident the club have got a long-term strategy in place for ongoing success.

City's summer spending has been comfortably eclipsed by their Manchester rivals at Old Trafford, with Eliaquim Mangala at £32million the only huge-money signing the champions have made in the close season.

Instead the majority of the club’s spending has been on improving their infrastructure, with plans outlined for a £200m training facility opposite the Etihad Stadium which will include 16 pitches and a 7,000-seat stadium spread across 80 acres.

Such investment, Kompany feels, will lay the foundations for the club to continue to be successful for years to come.

'This is a club that is investing in all the right places,” Kompany said in an interview with the Sunday Mirror.

'The manager (Manuel Pellegrini) has played a big role in that, also. He is always calm, he never panics, and that message gets through to the players.

'I know City built up a negative reputation in the minds of some people, but if all the investment that has taken place isn’t a statement of stability and commitment then I don’t know what is.

'Nothing is short term here. Everything is geared towards being successful now and in the future - and you can only do that if the club is stable.

'We are moving into a new training ground soon, which will be another big step. Our youth teams are getting better, and our impact on the local community here in Manchester is growing all the time. There are big things to come from this club, believe me.”

City’s close-season transfer activity has been predominantly about tweaking an already strong squad, with Mangala adding depth at centre-back and £12m signing Fernando bringing experience in central midfield.

Kompany believes the retention of City’s elite players bodes well from a continuity point of view and feels that consistency will enhance their bid to retain the Premier League title.

'I think the club has made a statement this summer, not just with the players we have brought in, but also with the new deals that have been made," he said.

'I am not talking about myself when I say this, but we have signed a group of players who are absolutely world class. They are guys who have already won stuff for City and you can’t buy that kind of experience.

'Am I happy to know that David Silva, Kolarov, Nasri, Dzeko and Aguero are going to be in my team? Of course. I would hate to play against these guys. I am sure the fans are delighted with what they have seen this summer.

'They have seen us strengthen the squad, but they have also seen that there is continuity here. There’s a plan for the future.”