Manuel Pellegrini Slams Belgium Over Vincent Kompany Call-up

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has criticised Belgium coach Marc Wilmots' decision to play Vincent Kompany in this week's final Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Kompany was called up for international duty despite missing City's last five games with a calf injury.

Pellegrini had insisted City's captain would not be fit for either of the games against Andorra or Israel, but Wilmots fielded him in the latter fixture.

The 29-year-old defender came through 58 minutes of action unscathed, yet Pellegrini was still not happy.

"I was not pleased because we sent Vincent with some medical report that he was not able to play but, as the manager of Belgium said, he can do what he wants in the international break. He can use the players and he wanted to use him," Pellegrini said on Friday.

"But for me, when you don't send a player to the national squad and you cannot use him for your club, I think the other sense must be the same. If a player didn't play the last three games for his club he cannot play for the national squad.

"But these are the rules. I think some day clubs will protest about that."

Pellegrini insisted this had not led to a problem between him and Kompany, but would not confirm whether the defender would return to his starting line-up when the Premier League leaders face Bournemouth on Saturday.

"There is not a problem with him. I think it was important for Vincent to work a complete week before he played and he couldn't do it because he played for Belgium," Pellegrini added.

"We will have to see in the future when he can return to his position."

Pellegrini also confirmed City's Argentina striker Sergio Aguero is likely to be out at least a month.

Aguero, who scored five goals on his last City appearance against Newcastle, suffered a hamstring injury on international duty.

"Sergio has a muscle injury. I think it is an important injury, so I don't think he will be back before one month," Pellegrini said.