Kevin De Bruyne fuels Man City rout as new badge is unveiled

MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Manchester City scored three goals in 11 minutes against Sunderland to decide the outcome of the Premier League match in the first half, but substitute Vincent Kompany’s return from injury lasted even less time Saturday in the 4-1 victory.

City have invested £74m in Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolás Otamendi, making them the two most expensive centre-backs in Premier League history, but neither has proved an adequate replacement for Kompany.

The 29-year-old was crestfallen for not having played and revealed that he will do everything to get back to full fitness and help his team’s title race.

Manuel Pellegrini is adamant Manchester City can win trophies without Vincent Kompany – and fears they may have to prove it. ‘Maybe it was better to win 7-1 and score more goals but if you tell me now we are going to win all the games 4-1 here this season I don’t have any problem’.

With a three-point gap between the sides following Leicester’s 1-0 loss at Liverpool on Boxing Day, victory at the King Power Stadium will lift Manuel Pellegrini’s men above their hosts thanks to superior goal difference.

Manager Sam Allardyce recognises the urgency of the situation and feels he must act in the January transfer window.

In response to this, Allardyce opted for his first change of the day, Lee Cattermole – who he said he didn’t want to rush back – replacing Yann M’Vila, despite only returning to training this week.

“But I am not here to put on a show, I am here to win the game”.

“We need Vincent, but this team doesn’t depend on one player”.

However, he was forced to leave the pitch soon afterwards, leaving Pellegrini with a significant defensive problem ahead of Tuesday’s trip to title rivals Leicester.

Aguero & Co. will fancy their chances given that the Black Cats have conceded the most goals (33) and allowed their opponents the most shots on target (106) in the Premier League so far this season.

Kompany is a strong, steady presence on the back end, and Manchester City’s defending clearly isn’t as sure without him.

The Chilean said: “Vincent is the captain of the team – you can not be the captain of an important team if you are not an important player. My body feels invincible – the best it’s ever been – but I’m challenged by a number of small and local injuries”, the City defender posted on his official Facebook page.

Kevin De Bruyne, a team-mate for club and country, knows Kompany better than most.

However, the Blues looked reinvigorated and opened up a 3-0 lead before Sunderland came to life and got on the scoresheet through Fabio Borini.

De Bruyne had a simple finish for his 10th City goal in the 54th.

“We have got a hugely hard period coming along, certainly with the players I have got now”, he said.