"Kompany gave me the confidence I needed"

INTERVIEWS fter two years of absence, Sergio Gomez celebrated his return to the Spanish U21. Gomez owes his selection to his good performances at Anderlecht in recent weeks. The Spaniard is blossoming at Anderlecht. And he owes that to one man: Vincent Kompany.


Gomez signed for Anderlecht this summer after a few difficult years at Dortmund. "I had several offers, but a phone call from Vincent Kompany was the key," Gomez told the Spanish media. "He told me he really wanted me in his team. He gave me the confidence I needed. It took me some time to decide, but Kompany kept calling me to convince me. So I accepted and I'm very happy with it now."

Gomez is an attacking midfielder, but at Anderlecht he plays left back. "During the phone calls, Kompany told me he saw a left back in me. I don't care. Defensively it is more difficult, but Kompany gives me a lot of help. During his career he was one of the best central defenders in the world."

According to Gomez, Kompany sometimes has to slow him down in order not to play too high. "We are a team that likes to play attacking football. I sometimes have to control myself. Kompany points that out and steers me well. Little by little I adapt. It feels good."

"The Belgian league has pleasantly surprised me. It is very competitive and produces many good players. Much larger leagues are coming to get players. Albert Sambi Lokonga left Anderlecht this summer for Arsenal. Who are the next pearls that will leave Anderlecht ? There are many good young players, but we will soon see players like Verschaeren and El Hadj at bigger clubs."