Skipper backs big ‘Man’ to bounce back

MANCHESTER City captain Vincent Kompany has backed Eliaquim Mangala to bounce back from a day to forget against Hull.

Mangala lived up to his £32million price tag with a commanding debut against Chelsea, but came back to Earth with a bump at the KC Stadium.

The reigning champions may have run out 4–2 winners, but Mangala made a couple of unwanted interventions in the first half, sending an emphatic header into his own net and then conceding a clumsy penalty to cost his side an early two–goal lead.

His blushes were spared as Sergio Aguero’s early effort, Edin Dzeko’s brace and Frank Lampard’s fourth strike in a week eventually secured victory, leaving Kompany to speak up for his defensive partner.

“It’s part of being a defender. If your children ever choose to play football, sign them up as strikers and then this won’t happen to them,” said the Belgian.

“As defenders, we have to deal with this, it’s part of the job.”