'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Vincent Kompany is set to return to first team action when Manchester City take on Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League group stage opener tonight.
The Manchester City captain was out of action following a groin injury in the Premier League opener in August. Manuel Pellegrini, who was suffering due to lack of quality defenders, will now be eagerly waiting for the captain’s comeback.
Pellegrini said in a pre-match press conference, “Vincent has worked with us normally for the last two days. We will see if he is 100 per cent. If he is, of course he will play. We will talk with the doctor and decide.
“I think he will be 100 per cent, but if he is not he will not play. We have a very important match but we have other players if any are not 100 per cent.”
Pellegrini stated that Kompany’s absence won’t hurt them much as they kept clean-sheets in the last couple of games.
He further added: “Vincent is a very important player for us. He has been injured for about one month. But without Vincent, except for the game against Cardiff, the defence played very well. We have had three clean sheets.
“Vincent is very important but we have a squad. We have replacements for any player who is injured.”
Although Manchester City failed to impress in their previous two Champions League campaigns, Manuel Pellegrini has a good record in the competition, as he reached the latter stages with his previous two clubs, Malaga and Villarreal.
The City boss is hopeful of performing well with his new club. He had rested six of his players in the last game for the crucial Champions League tie against the Czech opponents.
