Friday 13 January 2017 17:32, UK
Pep Guardiola admits he is unsure whether injury-plagued Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany will ever regain his best form.
Kompany is in contention to return for the first team in the Nissan Super Sunday game at Everton following his latest injury lay-off.
The Belgium international centre-back has been sidelined since suffering a knee problem against Crystal Palace in mid-November. The injury was the 35th he had suffered since joining City from Hamburg in 2008.
Now 30, Kompany's long-term fitness and durability is uncertain and his manager has no idea whether he will recapture the dominant displays that helped City to two Premier League titles.
"I don't know, it is a good question. It is not the first time we have talked about that," Guardiola said on Friday.
"The good news is he is back and hopefully he stays fit for a long time because then we will see what level he is at.
"When he is fit, he is at the top level, we cannot deny how good Vincent is, but to achieve that maybe he needs a bit of time.
"Everybody needs that when you have been out for a long time. Mentally he is strong, he knows what he needs to do, but what I would like is for him not to put a lot of pressure on himself.
"He needs weeks and weeks and weeks of training sessions and to just go out there and play the games.
"He doesn't have to put pressure on himself to do amazing things, he just has to do the simple things and be the defender he was.
"He just needs to keep it simple and do the things he had always done. Once he is back up and running, he will achieve the things he wants, he will get back to his level."
Kompany is in no doubt that he can regain full fitness and win back his place in the team, but Guardiola revealed he was warned Belgium international to take his time.
"Yes, his mentality is that he feels he wants to come back immediately," Guardiola said.
"He wants to be perfect immediately, but I know, in this business, you do not get time.
"You are judged immediately, but he has to feel his way. His manager and his teammates will give him time to come back, he has been away for a long, long time."
Meanwhile, Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus' debut for City is being delayed as his registration has not gone through yet.
City signed Jesus from Palmeiras last summer but he has only just linked up with his new club and Guardiola confirmed the administration process is taking time.
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