Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says the Premier League frontrunners have taken a leaf out of their arch rival’s book and will never stop believing they can win games even in the dying seconds.
City have maintained an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League with last-gasp 2-1 victories over Huddersfield and Southampton in their past two games, both late winners scored by Raheem Sterling.
The Southampton goal came six minutes into stoppage time and sparked jubilant scenes at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
Digging out maximum points in such circumstances was a hallmark of many of Manchester United’s title successes under Alex Ferguson and City captain Kompany recognises it is a good trait to acquire.
“It’s too early in the season to talk about titles but it is just good to know that you can have that feeling that at any time of the game you can make something happen. I felt it could still happen even that late in added time,” said Kompany.
“United used to do it to everybody else, to be honest.
“But it’s a long season. We have done it so far but, if at the end of the season we have done it consistently, I will be happy about it.”
City have won their past 12 league games but the tightness of the past two matches, after some emphatic wins earlier in the run, possibly indicates a change in approach from opponents when facing City.
“From the beginning of the season through to now the games have changed completely.
“I wouldn’t say it is something to complain about because it just gives you that knowledge that you are going to be on top of the team you are playing but it is something that we have to learn to deal with.
“The sooner we find a way to unlock these teams, the better it will be for our season.”
Despite the exhilaration of Sterling’s late strike against Saints, Kompany hopes City can return to winning games more convincingly.
He said: “I wouldn’t bank on it happening every week, so the sooner we start scoring earlier the better.”
Sterling has now scored 13 goals this term, already the most prolific season of his career.
Kompany said of his team-mate’s improvement: “I think it’s maybe an inner hunger, maybe that desire to be among the best. I can only encourage him to carry on on this path. I’ve seen the work he has put in behind the scenes and that is the way forward.”
City taken a leaf out of United's book, says Kompany
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