Vincent Kompany admits his children will have a ‘tough decision’ to make when his Burnley side take on Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
City were handed a home tie against Burnley in the quarter-final draw on Wednesday evening, with the fixture scheduled to take place on the weekend of 18/19 March.
Pep Guardiola’s side secured their place in the last eight of the competition with a 3-0 win at Bristol City on Tuesday, before Kompany’s Burnley scored a 90th-minute winner against League One Fleetwood on Wednesday.
The meeting will be the first time Kompany has been reunited with the club he made his name at since he left in 2019.
The former City captain spent 11 years at the club, winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups. The former Belgian international has his own statue outside the Etihad Stadium and is one of the most important figures in the club’s history.
Since leaving City he has retired and embarked on a managerial career. After a couple of seasons in charge at Belgian giants Anderlecht he returned to the UK last summer to replace Sean Dyche as Burnley boss.
Kompany’s impact at Turf Moor has been remarkable. The Clarets hold a 12-point lead at the top of the Championship table with 12 games remaining and play an attack-minded brand of football unrecognisable from the Burnley of old.
Now, fate has decided that Kompany will go head-to-head with one of his coaching inspirations before they earn promotion to the Premier League.
What did Kompany say?
Speaking after the draw on Wednesday evening, Kompany admitted that it will be a special occasion for him and his family.
“[It’s a] double feeling,” Kompany said, via the Daily Mail and The Sun. “My ties with City are extremely strong and will remain so.
“I’ve gone a few times to watch them with the kids It’s not a bad thing to do in Manchester on a Sunday! The kids will now have a tough decision who to support.
“I look forward to it. I have a few games now that are more important but it will be a special day.”
When it comes down to business though, Kompany is not expecting any favours from Guardiola or his former teammates.
“Past the hugs and high-fives, there’s a machine there that wants to win every game.
“I’m the same as them; what they feel, I feel it as well. I still kick every ball when I watch them because I know the players. But I’m not as fast as I used to be, I’ve got half a belly now. So maybe I belong on the touchline.”
