• Champions League

Kompany: City destined for European glory

Vincent Kompany believes it is "inevitable" that Manchester City will emulate neighbours United and win the Champions League.

United clinched their 20th English crown with Monday night's 3-0 defeat of Aston Villa to succeed City as champions, swelling a trophy cabinet which dwarfs that at Eastlands.

City have won three domestic titles, and their sole continental success - in the 1970 European Cup-Winners' Cup - was matched by United in 1991 and is trumped by three Champions League successes for the Old Trafford club.

But although City have crashed out at the group stages in their last two Champions League campaigns, Kompany, 27, is confident that they can go on to lift the trophy.

"It seems inevitable," the Belgium international centre-back told RMC radio. "It was the same question in the Premier League, and we won that quicker than people thought we would."

City are well-placed to finish as runners-up to Sir Alex Ferguson's men and secure another shot at the Champions League, and Kompany said he believed Samir Nasri could play a leading role for them next season.

"When Samir's on form, he has a considerable impact on the team's performances," Kompany added. "He's important for us.

"We're preparing for next season and, if he can produce that level of performance, we'll have an extra exceptional player."

Kompany maintained the "bad boy" reputation France international Nasri has in his home country was not necessarily justified, adding: "When he's at Manchester City, he's calm and settled.

"Like everyone, he has good and bad days. He works for the team. I don't know whether he thinks about the French national team, though I can say that he follows their results."

Nasri last played for his country at Euro 2012, but Kompany is the rock on which a highly-impressive young Belgium squad has been built.

Marc Wilmots' men are unbeaten after six qualifiers, topping Group A ahead of Croatia and Serbia, and skipper Kompany believes the Red Devils should have ambitions of earning themselves a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"We have enormous potential," Kompany said. "Before, players would play better with their clubs than in the national team. That's starting to change, and it's looking good. Everything seems to be going in the right direction. The World Cup is something our generation should be at."

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