Guardiola: Man City continually improving in Europe

Belgium and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is “out for weeks” as confirmed by Guardiola in his press conference.

Kompany came off the field in City’s win last weekend with a concussion. Kompany, 30, has started only two Premier League matches this season and has been plagued by calf, groin and thigh injuries this year.

The German said: “A lot of other people were expecting a different game but we should calm down because Borussia Monchengladbach are a really good team”. I think we were just a little bit slow in the first half.

“He’s sad. He’s sad and upset”.

“I trained with the best players in the world so I try to be involved in all of the process of the game so that one player doesn’t shoulder responsibility to win the game”.

Guardiola was unable to give a clear indication of how long Kompany will be out for but is confident it will be weeks rather than months.

The City boss said on Tuesday that he thought the Belgian would be out for three to four weeks, but after consultation with Dr Ramon Cugat at his Barcelona surgery, there is now a more accurate – and lengthy – timeframe on his recovery.

He arranged for his squad to take part in a late 4pm training session Friday and then stay overnight at the City Football Academy to make sure they are in the best shape, physically and mentally, to face Burnley.

Pep Guardiola immediately turned his thoughts to the Premier League after David Silva’s goal sent his Manchester City side into the Champions League last 16.

“He can play many positions”.

But Toure is not eligible for Europe.

Something similar occurred last season when former manager Manuel Pellegrini de-registered the injured Samir Nasri and added Kelechi Iheanacho.

“To get to the quarter-finals is not normal”.

“Overall we are very happy with the point and the performance of the team”, Guardiola told reporters.

City, second in Group C behind leaders Barcelona, will book their place in the knock-out phase with another victory over Gladbach, having won the reverse fixture 4-0 when Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick in mid-September.

Yet when asked about the importance of defeating Burnley before embarking upon all of this, Guardiola said: “It will be complicated for the other teams as well”. I was a trainer here in Germany and know how hard Gladbach are.

“We dropped six points at home when we deserved to win at least two of them”.

Despite inauspicious domestic form, which has left Monchengladbach languishing 13th in the Bundesliga, they carried the fight to their big-spending rivals and Bravo had to spread himself to deny Oscar Wendt following a slaloming run. They didn’t win. So, in this moment, they are ready and prepared. I know the players and I know the club.