Everton vs Manchester City preview: No privileges for captain Vincent Kompany, says Manuel Pellegrini

The arrival of Otamendi from Valencia for £31 million will inevitably increase the pressure on Kompany

Kompany celebrates after scoring last week (PA)

Manuel Pellegrini insisted the Manchester City captaincy gives Vincent Kompany no protection now that Nicolas Otamendi has become the club’s fourth centre-half, writes Tim Rich.

Unlike his Manchester United counterpart, Louis van Gaal, who said he would always start with Wayne Rooney on the grounds that he is the club captain, City’s manager said there will be no privileges for Kompany.

The arrival of Otamendi from Valencia for £31 million will inevitably increase the pressure on Kompany and City’s two other centre-halves: Eliaquim Mangala, who has struggled to justify his £42m fee, and Martin Demichelis, one of Pellegrini’s closest confidants in the dressing room.

“For me, the most important thing is the performance,” Pellegrini said. “If the performance of any player is not what I know he can give, then I think we must find a replacement whether he is captain or not.”

Pellegrini stated that Kompany and Mangala will start at Everton this afternoon. Their performance against Chelsea, where Diego Costa looked neutered, would make any alternative difficult.

However, Mangala is likely to face a rather more searching examination at Goodison Park and Pellegrini looked uncomfortable denying suggestions that he had asked to go to Valencia on loan as part of the Otamendi deal.

Of the four, two are always likely to start on the bench. Pellegrini said he had never been a fan of playing three centre-halves.

“I don’t think it is the best way,” he said. “I like technical players and normally centre-backs are not technical players.”

Soothing damaged egos is, said Pellegrini, one of a manager’s easier jobs.

“The most difficult things is when you don’t have the players and you have to win,” the Manchester City manager said. “