Guardiola urges Kompany 'to free his mind'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Vincent Kompany must forget about his previous injuries and focus on the future.

Kompany pulled out of the Belgium side to face Netherlands during the international break because he did not feel 100% fit, despite City's medical team giving him a clean bill of health on the groin and calf problems that have limited him to just 16 Premier League appearances since the start of the 2015-16 season.

The 30-year-old seems reluctant to rush back, and asked to be substituted at half-time of City's EFL Cup match at Manchester United last month because he was worried about aggravating the problem, but Guardiola feels the issue is psychological rather than physical.

"We are working on that," the Spaniard said ahead of Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

"I spoke with Roberto Martinez, the national coach. He was ready to play the first game and [then] he didn't feel so comfortable.

"That's why they decided, why Vincent decided not to play that game. He came back good – yesterday training good, today [Friday] too.

"We are working on that, to be free in his mind. The muscular issues are much, much better because it is a long time without any.

"We have a few things, but he's not injured. If he was injured he cannot come back to training yesterday and today.

"I think he is close, close to helping us and we are working on recovering the best Vincent possible."

Guardiola also backed £37m summer signing Leroy Sane to come good despite a slow start to his career at the Etihad Stadium.

Sane has yet to score in eight City appearances across all competitions since signing from Schalke, and did not even make the matchday squad for the 4-0 win at West Brom on 29 October, and the 3-1 Champions League win over Barcelona three days later.

"He's a young player who is 20 years old," said Guardiola.

"He is living here, his mum has come to visit him. Sometimes you need a bit more time to adapt, to know the way we play to feel, 'OK, I'm here, I'm good enough - more than good enough to play'.

"But he is young, he didn't come here for three months; he came for five or six years.

"He's a huge talent, his physical condition is fast, his one-against-one… I want to help him to put it in the right moment to show us his talent and his qualities."

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