City targeting European success

REUTERS

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany lifts the English Premier League trophy. Picture: Reuters.

London – For the first time in 44 years, Manchester City are preparing to play in the Community Shield as the English champions, but that pre-season ritual will be the last time captain Vincent Kompany allows his mind to drift back to the most dramatic title race in Premier League history.

City's astonishing final day victory over QPR, which culminated with Sergio Aguero snatching the title from Manchester United's grasp with virtually the last kick of the season, sparked a summer-long party among the club's long-suffering fans.

After decades languishing in United's shadow, this was a cathartic moment for City – a team famed for the self-depreciating quip that the only trophy they would ever win was the “cup for cock-ups”.

Trailing 2-1 against QPR heading into stoppage-time on that heady day in May, it seemed City, who needed a victory to clinch the title, had somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory once again.

But those late goals from Edin Dzeko and then Aguero finally established City as a force to be reckoned with for the first time since the 1960s.

Yet, however sweet that triumph was, for Belgian defender Kompany it only represents one small step towards what he wants to achieve with City.

With the decline of Blackburn – who spent big to win the title in 1995 before quickly fading back into mediocrity – acting as a warning to guard against complacency, there is a real determination among City's most influential figures to ensure the title acts a springboard for more domestic success and, crucially, a serious challenge for the Champions League.

Boss Roberto Mancini has already spoken to his players in those terms on the club's pre-season tour and Kompany echoed the Italian's view that only more silverware will be a fitting encore to last's season show-stopping act.

“The last game was a game that will remain a very strong part of our history,” Kompany said.

“I think there will be people speaking about this game for 50, 100 years to come.

“But in the same way I have enjoyed it, I am looking forward already.

“One of the main things for me is to not keep looking back at this game for too long. I just want to move on.

“It has been a big story all over the world. I have travelled a lot and met a lot of people from different countries and all of them have got their reminder of that particular moment.

“All of them have somehow experienced it in a special way. But looking forward for me, this is over now. It is about what lies ahead.”

Since Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club in 2008, City, who ended a 35-year trophy drought by winning the FA Cup in 2011, have gradually become a major force in England.

But, despite leading the table for most of the season, they only won the title on goal difference from a less than vintage United outfit.

Now the aim is to become more convincing champions and then establish themselves among Europe's elite.

Their first taste of the Champions League ended prematurely at the group stage.

There is a strong feeling that having now broken the psychological barrier of winning the title, City should go onto dominate like their hated neighbours United.

But City have found it surprisingly hard to add new signings to their already potent mix so far.

Mancini has made Arsenal forward Robin van Persie and Roma midfielder Daniele di Rossi two of his top targets, but progress on both deals has been frustratingly slow.

If Mancini is vexed by the club's struggles in the transfer market, he can take heart from Kompany, who made it clear he has no intention of resting on his laurels.

“You lay down the foundation and if you do it right then you can be successful for a long time. That is the aim,” he said.

“But it is not for me to just keep saying it or keep thinking about it.

“I think there is so much more great stuff ahead of us and that is what interests me.” – Sapa-AFP