Pep Guardiola jokes managing against Vincent Kompany makes him feel OLD

Pep Guardiola says facing Vincent Kompany on the touchline on Saturday night will remind him of how old he has become.

The Manchester City master will go head to head with his former title-winning captain for the first time since Kompany hung up his boots in 2019 and went into management, where he has been a roaring success at Burnley.

The Clarets need just three wins from their final ten games to clinch promotion back to the Premier League, and they face Guardiola’s Blues in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium.

Kompany won four league titles, four League Cups and an FA Cup under Guardiola, as well as one league title each under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, and he is assured of a hero’s welcome when he leads his runaway Burnley side out.

Guardiola has already said he thinks it inevitable that Kompany will one day succeed him as manager, but he said seeing him in the opposition dugout will just make him feel his age.

Pep Guardiola has joked that managing against Vincent Kompany makes him feel old

The former Manchester City captain will bring his Championship runaway leaders to the Etihad this weekend

The City manager said: “He was an exceptional captain, a top human being, and I’m really pleased.

‘On the other side, I’m concerned because when you start to play a game and the opponent on the touchline is a player that you had, you realise how old you are becoming. That is a little bit frustrating, but it’s nice to see him.’

Kompany walked into a relegated club last summer, saw 12 players sold from under his nose and another 18 walk through the door, but has led his team 19 points clear in the rasce for an automatic promotion spot.

Guardiola said he has not surprised, having studied the Clarets this week: ‘Being so close to being a Premier League team next year, seeing more carefully what they do I understand completely. They will be a really tough opponent because they do incredible things on the pitch.

Kompany and Guardiola enjoyed remarkable success together in the player’s final years

‘Always a manager needs time but to be a success with a team is to convince them as soon as possible what you believe is the best to win games and suit perfectly for the players you have and apply it as quick as possible. They apply it. They have a good team and the way they play is exceptional.’

Kompany has long been tipped as a future City manager but the perils of management were brought home to another ex-Blue with the sacking of Patrick Vieira today.

The Crystal Palace boss got his cards just two days before the south London club face City’ main Premier League rivals Arsenal in a league game, but Guardiola said he has given no thought to the impact the move might have on the title race.

‘I’m so sorry for him,’ he said. ‘I don’t know the reason why but a new challenge is around the corner. Our job depends on results. When you are sacked, you always have a new chance waiting for you.’