Manchester: Manchester City’s attempt to remain in the top four of the Premier League has been hampered by a five-man injury list and the news that captain Vincent Kompany may not play again this season.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who have slipped to the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place, will be without Kompany, strikers Stevan Jovetic and Wilfried Bony, in-form midfielder James Milner and defender Gael Clichy for the home game against West Ham United at Eastlands on Sunday.
Belgium defender Kompany injured his groin in last weekend’s devastating 4-2 Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford and Pellegrini conceded he cannot say whether he will play again over the remaining six games of a disappointing campaign.
“He is injured,” said Pellegrini. “It’s very difficult to know the way you will improve if you are injured.
“We don’t know how many weeks he will be out for,” the Chilean added. “He has a muscle injury. We don’t know if he will be fit from now to the end of the season.”
City’s hopes of a successful Premier League title defence had all but evaporated before their defeat by Manchester United last weekend — their sixth loss in eight games in all competitions. Pellegrini is shaping up for a vital six-game run to the end of the season which will decide the fate of his team – and possibly even his own job status, as pressure mounts with every setback and the names of Pep Guardiola, Patrick Vieira and Jurgen Klopp thrust forward as potential replacements.
“That is why every time you finish a season you must analyse things, whether you win or lose, that is important,” said Pellegrini.
“I don’t think if we lost the next six games it would be the same analysis as if we won the next six games.
“If we win the next six games we maybe finish second, if we lose the next six games then maybe we finish eighth! “After that, you must review the complete season, make the correct diagnosis and make the correct solution,” said Pellegrini. (AFP)
