An Underperforming ‘President’

Following their emphatic 6-0 win over QPR at the weekend, Manchester City notched up their fourth successive victory without their captain, Vincent Kompany, since he last appeared for City in their 4-2 defeat to Manchester United a month ago. 

Opta-powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com took on the task of taking a detailed look at Manchester City this season with and without their skipper to see how they have fared and if the Belgian’s exclusion has been a positive one as far as performances and results go.

Of the 36 Premier League games Manchester City have played this season, Kompany has missed 13. City have not lost any of those games, compared to the 7 losses from the 23 games Kompany has featured in.

With 10 wins without their captain, City have enjoyed an impressive win-rate of 77%, compared to a 52% win-rate when Kompany has been in the side. They have picked up 33 from a possible 39 points without the Belgian. In contrast, when Kompany has played, City have picked up 40 points from a possible 69. 

Defensively City have fared far better without Kompany. They have averaged more clean sheets (46% to 30%) and have let in fewer goals per game (0.85 to 1.09). 

It was a big call for Manuel Pellegrini to drop Kompany, but the numbers don’t lie, it appears the Chilean was right to do so. 

With City looking to rebuild their squad to challenge for the Premier League next season and having to do so in-line with FFP, Vincent Kompany would attract a large sum. 

Could Pellegrini do the unthinkable and cash in on his captain this summer?