Vincent Kompany feels standards have been driven up at Manchester City by increased competition for places.
City have started the season in blistering fashion, winning their opening three Premier League games without conceding a goal and scoring eight.
After a frustrating 2014-15 campaign the squad was bolstered over the summer, chiefly with the signings of Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph.
And, despite the impressive results since, City are still recruiting. They spent £32 million (Dh185.2m) to sign defender Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia and continue to be heavily linked with Wolfsburg’s Kevin de Bruyne.
Kompany said: “That is one of the reasons we have started so strong. You can’t really afford to do anything wrong during the week leading up to the game. Then, during the game, you can’t do anything wrong either as there is always someone looking over your shoulder, waiting, who is just as good as you.
“If they are in a better moment and they deserve a chance, they will take your place. You have got to be at the top of your game. This is what you are seeing – a group of guys who know that they need to perform. If they don’t, someone else will do it.”
Kompany, 29, is likely to be feeling the competition as keenly as anyone. The Belgian fell below his own high standards last season and consequently reported back early for pre-season training to get ready for the new campaign.
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His performances have suggested he is back to his best, but with Otamendi arriving to boost central defensive ranks that also include Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis, he cannot ease off.
He said: “It shows on the pitch that I feel good and I feel happy with myself. I just don’t want to miss any opportunities to have a good game or have a good season. Every game counts for me. This when I need to perform.”
City’s defensive solidity so far this season is a source of great satisfaction for Kompany who said: “It is as important as the goals we score. As long as you don’t concede you are still in the game. From that moment, anything is possible.”
One man who won’t be battling Kompany for first-team football, however, is fellow Belgian centre-back Jason Denayer who is set to join Galatasaray on loan.
Denayer, 20, enjoyed a fine loan spell at Celtic last season.
