Man City players happy with three at the back, says Kompany

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes the team is comfortable with the switch to three at the back as they have quality players who are very adaptable, the centre back said. City played with a back four in manager Pep Guardiola's debut campaign last season but switched their formation during the pre-season in July and have since won three consecutive friendlies, scoring 10 goals and conceding just one.

.@VincentKompany on pre-season, three at the back and the arrival of @BernardoCSilva! #mancity https://t.co/foqngvqquD

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 9, 2017

The same system was deployed by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in his team's title-winning campaign last season and has since been adopted by a number of other managers, including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. "We are mature players, professionals, and we just adapt," Kompany told City's website. (www.mancity.com) "I've been able to play many systems in my career and I don't want to tie myself down to a system. "This is a good system because we've got the quality in the side to apply any system."

This is a good system because we've got the quality in the side to apply any system — @ManCity's #Kompanyhttps://t.co/rvsRAIdEQo— FirstpostSports (@FirstpostSports) August 10, 2017

Manager Pep Guardiola's focus on bringing in quality wide players on either flank has been crucial to City's strategy of stretching opponents in pre-season. Kompany singled out winger Bernardo Silva for praise. "He's got a silky touch. He's a player who knows how to make key passes and I'm obviously very excited because I know how these kind of players can decide games and help you towards achieving great things.

Kompany excited by Bernardo Silva's potential #MCFC https://t.co/1u7261E3eI

— Manchester City News (@ManCityMEN) August 9, 2017

"But it's still pre-season for him. He's a little bit behind on fitness probably, which is normal and we'll need him at the right time."