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Three key men for Manchester City

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Three key men for Manchester City
Three key men for Manchester City
Three key men for Manchester City

Having reinforced a squad already glistening with world-class players, Manchester City have started their domestic campaign in blistering form, winning all five of their opening Premier League fixtures to sit five points clear at the top of the table.

Boasting one of the strongest spines in world football from Joe Hart in goal, Vincent Kompany in defence, Yaya Toure, Fernandinho and David Silva in midfield and Sergio Aguero in attack, the Citizens have been tipped by many to go far in this year’s Champions League.

From the abundance of stars at Manuel Pellegrini’s disposal, Juventus.com takes a look at three players to watch out for in particular when the Bianconeri play at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Vincent Kompany, 29, Defender

Vincent Kompany

A rock at the heart of Manchester City’s rearguard, Vincent Kompany has been instrumental in his side’s stunning record of not having conceded a goal yet in 2015/16. In addition to his immense physical and technical qualities that make the 29-year-old one of the most highly-rated defenders in European football, the Belgian international is a leader of men and captains both club and country. A commanding figure in his own penalty area, Kompany also provides an aerial threat down the other end of the pitch and has already notched two goals this season, both headers against West Brom and Chelsea respectively.

Kompany is a product of Anderlecht’s youth academy and won two league titles with the Brussels-based club before transferring to Hamburg in 2006. After a two-year spell with the Bundesliga-outfit, with whom he claimed a UEFA Intertoto Cup, the defender moved to Manchester City and has played an integral role in the club’s recent renaissance as Premier League champions in 2012 and 2014, winning an FA Cup and League Cup in the process. On a personal level, Kompany has been selected for three of the last five PFA Teams of the Year.

Yaya Toure, 32, Midfielder

Yaya Toure has been Manchester City’s main midfield engine since joining from Barcelona in 2010. Playing from box to box, the Ivorian offers protection to his defence while also being devastating in the final third. In 226 games for the Citizens, the 32-year-old has scored 65 goals while creating another 41 with three assists already this season. Toure has also been an ever-present for an Ivory Coast side that he captained to Africa Cup of Nations glory earlier this year.

Yaya Toure

Prior to his arrival at the Etihad Stadium five years ago, Toure worked his way across Europe with spells at Belgian outfit Beveren, Metalurg Donetsk, Olympiacos, AS Monaco and Barcelona, where he was part of the side to claim an historic six-trophy haul in 2009. Since joining City, he has won four domestic titles and will be looking to emulate his team’s success back home in the Champions League this year.

Kevin De Bruyne, 24, Attacking Midfielder

Signed this summer from Wolfsburg, Kevin De Bruyne made his City debut on Saturday as a 25th minute substitute for the injured Sergio Aguero. The Belgian is a dynamic midfielder, who likes to burst forward into the box and make his contributions count in the final third. In two years at the Bundesliga club, the 24-year-old weighed in with 37 assists, averaging one every two games, while finding the net himself on 20 occasions.

Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne’s professional career began at Genk, where he won three domestic titles before joining Chelsea in 2012, but would be loaned back to his former club and then to Werder Bremen in the same year. It was in northern Germany that the Belgian international really came to the fore with ten goals and as many assists in his single season at the club, and he went on to continue his prolific form in the division with the colours of Wolfsburg, whom he helped to a DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup, while being voted Bundesliga Player of the Year for the 2014/15 campaign.

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