'Neither players, nor managers are loyal
Manchester City's longest-serving player and captain Vincent Kompany has given a footballer's perspective into loyalty in the game, something that fans all over the world value, but only when it suits them.
A player moving to China is labelled a mercenary, or a player making the move from a smaller side to a larger team is told to 'pay his dues' to the club that established him as a star. Brazilian superstar Neymar even came under fire for leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain, although his main motivation was to lead his own side to glory.
Compared to others, from Philippe Coutinho to Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa -- none of whom played on the opening weekend -- Kompany is held up as a beacon of virtue. However, it is a status he is reluctant to accept, admitting that players, managers and clubs are all out for themselves.
"Loyalty is a difficult topic in football. Everybody wants to have it but in reality managers are thinking 'If I can find a better player, you're out', and players are thinking 'If I can find a club that wins more games, I'm out,'" Kompany said about loyalty.
"I've been lucky enough to be at a club that has grown as my career has developed. But sometimes you have managers and directors that make decisions, and if you don't fit the plans you can love the club as much as you want but you might have to move on."
Kompany also reflected on his arrival at the Etihad nine years ago. He was bought just a week before the club were acquired by Sheik Mansour and underwent their transformation.
"I've so many dressing-room memories. In my first season, the Brazilians Robinho and Elano would do keepy-ups with their socks, making the rest of us feel like amateurs," Kompany reminisced with a smile. "All you could do is shrug your shoulders and go 'Oh well, I'll just do some push-ups!'
Entertainment and three points are what City fans will expect against Everton on Monday after Pep Guardiola's team made an impressive start with a win at Brighton.
The presence of Wayne Rooney in an Everton shirt will add spice and Kompany has his own reasons for trying to keep the former United man quiet. Rooney scored one of the greatest goals in the Premier League's 25 years when his overhead kick helped beat City in 2011.
"That goal was a testimony to his talent because I had him in my pocket!" says Kompany. "But top strikers do things at unbelievable times. I was really strong for 90 minutes and then he pulls the overhead kick and I'm thinking 'Oh, come on…'
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