Kompany: Driven Mancini key to City

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has credited an ‘obsessed’ Roberto Mancini for his team’s excellent first half of the season.

City are two points clear atop the English Premier League ahead of a trip to West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

Kompany, 25, has praised manager Mancini’s impact at Etihad Stadium, especially the Italian’s desire to help City improve.

“He’s a very passionate man – there’s no mistake about that. What you see on the touchline is the man you get. He knows his football,” the Belgium defender told Sky Sports on Sunday.

“He’s obsessed – in the same way a lot of players are in our team – with victory and getting better and making sure that even when we win we’re not looking back on the positive things but also on the things that went wrong so we can improve.”

Big-spending City, who were knocked out of the Champions League earlier this month, spent Christmas Day on top of the Premier League for the first time since 1929.

Kompany has been a key at the heart of City’s defence, and said he had a ‘gut feeling’ his team would be successful this season.

“This year in particular has certainly been proof of the fact we’re going about it the right way and that’s the main thing for us,” he said.

“I almost feel like I want to wait before I talk so much, but I really have a gut feeling that tells me that this is the season for us.”

“It’s not based on the fact that I’m being pretentious because of the players we have in the team or the money that has been spent. It’s not about this.”

“I feel we have a very good team spirit. This is something probably is the thing people don’t expect as much in our team.”