Kompany refutes penalty claims

Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany has refuted claims he fouled Fernando Torres in the box late in his team’s 2-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Chelsea.

The Belgium defender appeared to tug the shirt of the Blues striker inside the penalty area as Rafa Benitez’s side mounted a comeback during the closing minutes of the Wembley encounter, with Torres insinuating that referee Chris Foy needed glasses.

But Kompany denied it was a penalty and said he did everything right in the challenge.

“I thought it was great defending,” he told ITV Sport. “I put my body in the way, I did everything I could. He pulled, I put my body in the way – this is football. It was a well fought game and not easy for both teams.”

The victory sees City’s bid to regain the trophy they last won in 2011 continue, and Kompany said the club’s focus will now switch to the final on May 11.

“We never doubted the fact that we wanted to win trophies,” the City skipper added. “This was an important game, and the most important game is going to be in the final against Wigan, and that is what we are looking forward to now.

“It’s brilliant, another great day for the club. When you look at this you can only hope we can have the same scenes when we play against Wigan in the final.”

Roberto Mancini’s side took a first-half lead through Samir Nasri, before Sergio Aguero doubled the advantage early in the second period.

Demba Ba pulled a goal back for Chelsea midway through the second half, and Kompany admitted that goal had brought renewed focus to the side.

“I think for a while it was too comfortable, and it was a wake-up call,” he said.

“But the pitch is huge, and a lot of times it’s you against your man, and you never know what can happen. But in the end I thought we defended really well, and when it mattered we were there. We did a great job.”