In this first edition, on his birthday Joleon Lescott discusses and assesses his powerful partnership with Vincent Kompany.
Tell us about Vincent the player…
He was a top player and a really good professional.
On the pitch, he was strong, aggressive, could play multiple positions and he had a high football IQ.
I watched him develop into the main defender but also one of the main players as well.
He was a huge presence on the pitch and in the dressing room and someone who always gave 100% and always rose to the big occasions.
Tell us about Vincent the person…
Vinnie is someone I am close to off the pitch.
I get along with him great. I saw that develop during our time together with the club.
I am not surprised that he is where he is now. He’s always very thorough in everything he does and I think anyone who knows Vinnie won’t be surprised where is in now in such a short space of time on his management journey.
Why did your partnership with Vinnie work…
It worked because I was able to adapt my game based on knowing he was going to play.
Me trying to be as effective as him in the same way was not going to work and would have left me short.
So I realised quickly that I needed to be Vinnie’s best partner rather than the best centre-back.
I was willing to combat areas where Vinnie needed more support.
We were also good friends off the field which does help. You don’t always need that but I think it definitely helped us on the pitch.
We sat next to each other, we got on great and we thought similarly about the game of football.
How happily do you look back at your time playing with him...
Very happily!
We achieved things together. We were successful.
Any player will tell you that if you set targets and set goals and go on and achieve them, you will always look fondly on that time in your career – and that’s certainly the case here at Manchester City alongside Vincent Kompany.
Moment you knew you were going to work as a pair...
I don’t think there was a moment – but there was a period of time at the end of the 2010/11 season, the season when we won the FA Cup, we knew we were going to play together after the January window shut. We knew we were going to get a run of matches together.
We knew we needed to perform to a high level together for the good of the team.
Then when we won the FA Cup, we gathered momentum as a partnership.
Other players who were alongside Vinnie wanted to be as effective as Vinnie. That didn’t quite go to plan. Because Vinnie was never going to come out of the team.
I was aware of that. So I thought my role was important but in a different way. And it worked.
Best game together…
I’d have to say the 1-0 Etihad win over Manchester United in April 2012 when Vinnie scored the winner.
In that game, defensively I was stronger but he contributed with the goal.
We both had an impact and we both kept the United frontline quiet.
