Vincent Kompany could walk past his own statue on the familiar walk to the Etihad Stadium. "I don't think about it but now you mention it, it's a bit weird," admits the Burnley boss as he prepares to take the Championship table toppers to Man City in the FA Cup quarter finals on Saturday. If you believe
Pep Guardiola he'll be treading that path with more regularity in the future. The City chief has spoken twice in recent weeks on the 'destiny' of Kompany one day becoming Etihad manager. READ MORE: Kompany explains why Haaland is proving a Man City exception under Guardiola "He needs to stop saying that," laughed Kompany when fielding questions for 40 minutes or so in the build-up to the weekend cup tie. "I am a Championship manager. "I think he should stay for another 10 years at Man City first and foremost. City is competing to win the
Champions League, we are competing to win the Championship so I don’t think those kind of conversations make sense. "They need to have the best manager of the world. I want to be extremely respectful to the club I manage as well. This club to me means everything. I want this club to get better. I need to develop and get better." Kompany has been to City on several occasions this season, often taking in a Sunday game with his family of Blues supporters. He met his wife Carla, already a big City fan, while playing in Manchester and his three children have followed in her footsteps. He's not exchanged messages with his former boss or team-mates this week, with the focus on the game rather than catching up, but he will share a glass of red post match with Guardiola. The City chief remains a friend and a sounding board. The two have kept in touch since Kompany's Etihad departure even if the now Burnley boss doesn't often pick his brains on the Championship condundrums he faces on a weekly basis. "Pep has always remained very communicative with ex-players," said the 36-year-old. "He has helped many former players after he has coached them. I am no different but I went into the Championship. I will still speak to him and will have a glass of red wine after the game but I have to deal with balls into the channels and headers and throw ins and you have to find your own solutions. The people I have spoken are guys like Steve Cooper from Nottingham Forest or Scott Parker when at Bournemouth, guys that have got promoted from the Championship." While Kompany and Guardiola might not have much in common in their on pitch challenges, the stylistic similarities between Burnley and City are clear. Kompany is joined in the dug-out by ex-Etihad striker Craig Bellamy while Richard Bredice came across as first team analyst. Vincent Kompany and Craig Bellamy On the pitch Taylor Harwood-Bellis joined on loan from City and Aro Muric and CJ Egan-Riley completed permanent moves from East Manchester to Turf Moor. It's of little surprise that Kompany has taken the Pep blueprint of possession and opening and exploiting spaces to the Championship. The pair had a strong relationship as manager and, in Kompany's words, 'functional captain.' The influence is clear to see. "He has proven with his record and the dominance in his achievements that he is one of the best managers there has ever been," said Kompany of Guardiola. "I am no different to any player that has ever played for him. "You draw on what has made him so good and take it into your further career as a coach but you draw on things from others as well. Pep has an incredible understanding of space and the detail of arriving into those spaces and being efficient. "But other managers like (Roberto) Mancini, incredible with the defence and (Manuel) Pellegrini was more free-flowing and attacking so I would have taken from those as well." The approach has served Kompany well. Burnley are flying high at the top of the Championship and it's a case of when rather than if they earn promotion to the
Premier League. The Clarets have been beaten only twice in the league, and by
Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, under Kompany's tutelage. But City is a different task. Burnley have lost the last 10 meetings between the teams by an aggregate of 34-1. At the Etihad it's eight straight wins for City, four by a 5-0 scoreline. Kompany is under no illusions how tough a task it will be. "I looked at results of Championship clubs at City, I shouldn't have done, but it's not good," he added. "Pep could give me the team if he wanted, and the tactics, and we would still be facing the toughest challenge we have faced." Maybe the Burnley boss will say a quick prayer to his statue on the way in on Saturday. Read more: Guardiola leaves Laporte in limbo with centre backs admission Guardiola turns fans' fears into fresh advantage Why Guardiola picked Bernardo over Mahrez despite 'Twitter guys' Haaland explains what he wants Man City to do more of Get all the latest City news