City not seeking salvation - Kompany

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has rejected suggestions his side's entire season hangs on whether or not it can overcome Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final.

City defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the semifinals on Sunday to reach its second final in three years, two years on from the 2011 success against Stoke City that ended the club's 35-year trophy drought.

City failed to make it beyond Christmas in the Champions League and the League Cup, and with Manchester United surging to victory in the Premier League, it leaves the FA Cup as its only chance of silverware.

However, with his side also in a comfortable position in second place in the league, Kompany sees no reason to be downcast about its performances this season.

"It is not a question of salvaging the season. You never know how good your season will be until after the last game," he said.

"It is important for our fans that we bring trophies back to Manchester. If we achieve that this season, it is important we cherish it and be happy about it.

"You can always improve and we have another season to do that, so you shouldn't look backwards too much."

Goals either side of half-time from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero appeared to have set City on course for a comfortable victory at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, only for Demba Ba's 66th-minute goal to leave it hanging on.

In a tense denouement, Aguero was fortunate to escape punishment for an appalling two-footed stamp on Chelsea centerback David Luiz, but City manager Roberto Mancini played down the incident.

"I didn't see it. I need glasses," he said jokingly.

"Usually Sergio takes a lot of kicks from defenders. I don't know what he did. This can happen in football.

"The referee was there. There were six referees on the pitch - I think if Sergio does something wrong ... (he would have been punished)."

Mancini was rewarded for keeping faith with goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who has deputized for first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart in the competition.

The Romanian produced several important saves, notably thwarting Juan Mata and Ba in quick succession at 2-1, and Mancini suggested he would keep his place for the final on May 11.

"Costel did very well," Mancini said.

"He is a good keeper and he deserves this situation because he has been here for two years and has done very well behind Joe Hart."

(China Daily 04/16/2013 page22)