• Premier League

Kompany unfazed by Chelsea's strong start

ESPN staff
October 3, 2014
Ramires and Vincent Kompany battle for the ball at the Etihad Stadium last month © Getty Images
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Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is unflustered by Chelsea's early lead at the top of the Premier League.

Jose Mourinho's side are three points clear at the summit after six games and a further two ahead of City, who are widely seen as their likeliest title challengers.

However, the only points that Chelsea have dropped so far came in the 1-1 draw at City last month and Kompany knows there is still a long way to go in the current campaign.

He led the City side that looked dead and buried in the title race three seasons ago, only to take the title on the final day, and also saw Arsenal drop off from a strong position last term.

"I can't really say that personally I'm looking too much at Chelsea," Kompany said. "When we won the league first time [in 2012], we were nine points behind with six or seven games left to play.

"Last year Arsenal were leading by six or seven points and ahead of everyone in February but it ended up being between Liverpool and us.

"There are so many reasons why I'm not really focusing on getting back at Chelsea."

City recorded their first league win in four away to Hull last weekend and, far from obsessing over the start of Chelsea, Kompany is training his focus squarely on another away day at Aston Villa on Saturday.

"Away games in the Premier League are ever so difficult, so it was good for us to get a result [at Hull]," he said. "There are no easy games ahead. The next game is at Aston Villa.

"Every fixture is a potential slip-up, but that's what's exciting about this league. I just look at the way we are playing and I just know we are going in the right direction. That's the most important thing for us."

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