Hard-nut Vincent Kompany is aiming to scrap his way to the top... and become the best centre-half in the Premier League.
The Belgian midfielder has arguably been Manchester City’s best player this season, the perfect combination of silk and steel at the heart of the Blues’ mean defence.
And he has dispelled once and for all the ‘myth’ that he still hankers after a place in City’s congested midfield.
In the past, Kompany has appeared to express a preference for central midfield, the position for which he was originally bought from Hamburg for a bargain basement £6million in 2008.
But, he claims that he has been misinterpreted, and that he has always been equally happy playing as a defender.
“It’s a myth that I prefer central midfield,” said Kompany, again a star as the Blues beat Newcastle on Sunday to move into second place in the league.
“I said that both positions are my position. I enjoy playing in the starting XI, and I enjoy being a centre-back because it gets me games.
“I enjoy playing both positions – before I even did anything as a centre-half people were speaking about me at City because I was performing as a midfielder.
“The only reason I am performing well as a centre-back now is because I have been willing to progress.
“It would have happened regardless of what position I had played.
“But I am really happy to play as a centre-half. Being able to play in both positions is a strength that I have, and I don’t want to lose that.
“If I play centre-half I want to be the best centre half in the league, and if I play central midfield I want to be the best central midfielder in the league because those two are my positions and I want to perform at the top week-in, week-out.”
Kompany has now flown out, along with Dedryck Boyata, for Belgium’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Austria.
Belgians
The Belgians badly need a couple of wins, having lost their two opening games to Turkey and Germany.
So the fortunes of the national team are in stark contrast to City’s promising start to the season, which has seen them claim second place without really hitting top gear or being able to field their strongest team.
Kompany’s personal star is also very much on the rise, but he pooh-poohs any idea that he is in the best form of his life.
The 24-year-old simply feels that he is now reaping the benefit of experience in his third season in the Premier League, and is continuing to improve.
Kompany was an early developer – as an 18-year-old he was named Belgium’s player of the year, and picked up his first cap at just 17.
But he feels he can still get better, and maybe that is why he refuted suggestions he is in the form of his life.
A City teammate recently named Kompany as the City player “most likely to win in a fight” when asked by a young fan at a supporters’ club branch meeting.
But if the muscles from Brussels is a bit of a tough nut, he is even tougher on himself.
“I’m progressing, that’s all,” he said. “I have performed ever since I have been at City, I think, but the only difference now is that I have progressed.
“You are only as good as your last game, so in the next game I will try to perform at the same level or even better. That’s the attitude I always have – sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.
“The team is getting better, but I am getting older and gaining more experience. I have always been willing to learn, and however I performed against Newcastle, I will be expecting more of myself in the next game.
“That’s the attitude, but I started trying to earn my medals when I first came to City. That was over two years ago, and I have tried to keep the level up. The hard work is what has been showing – I have had more time to work harder, and that is showing.”