Pep Guardiola to allow the dressing room decide who will take Kompany’s armband

MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola will let the players decide who will captain his side in the absence of Vincent Kompany.

The Belgian defender has been ravaged by a string of injuries over the past 12 months and looks likely to miss at least the opening game of the season against Sunderland.

Midfielder Yaya Toure and keeper Joe Hart usually captain the side when Kompany has to sit out but Guardiola has revealed he will leave the dressing room to decide on the next vice-captain.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of City's International Champions Cup clash against Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, the Spaniard said: "It's for the players to decide, they have to choose the captain.

"Vincent won't play for two reasons: either because he's injured, which has happened to Vincent Kompany in the last two seasons, or because of my decision.
"It's not a big problem. I think there a lot of experienced people who can do it - Joe Hart, Yaya Toure, Pablo Zabaleta as well. Kun Aguero has been here a long time. So they have to decide who is the real captain for them.

"I am not in the locker-room, the dressing-room, or their own meetings when they have to change something. They have to choose for themselves the best guy to represent them."

Kompany's injury concerns have posed a threat to his future at the Etihad with Guardiola keen to sign Everton's John Stones or Leonardo Bonucci. 

The former Bayern Munich boss has also hinted that Fernandinho could be deployed as a defender to "create good build-up play."