Vincent Kompany is giving no thought to becoming a future Manchester City manager, insisting that the Blues should have the best manager in the world in their dugout - and he doesn't fit that criteria.
Pep Guardiola, who is under contract until 2025, recently said he felt it was Kompany's destiny to become City manager in the future. Kompany will return to the Etihad Stadium for the first time as an opposition manager next week in the FA Cup quarter-final when he brings his Burnley side to Manchester.
Responding to Guardiola's comments, Kompany chose to focus on his own personal improvement, saying he is not yet qualified to manage City in the near future.
ALSO READ: Guardiola responds to Walker allegation and sends reminder to City players
"I think City should always have the best manager in the world, and that is not me," Kompany told BBC Sport.
"I'm a Championship manager, that's my level. We're not there yet, until it happens [managing in the Premier League], I'm a Championship manager. The focus is just on Burnley getting better and we will see. Maybe it only gets shown how far I am from being that guy, but eventually I just work as hard as I can to just get better every single time.
"They have the best manager in the world today and I hope he stays for another 10 years. If not, they should have the best manager in the world after Pep. From my side, I am way down the ranking so there isn't even a second in my thoughts when I am busy with that.
"My goal is I am looking forward to coming up against better managers - I live for that. My biggest strength is that if I fail, I get back up, I come back stronger - and that process is more important for me now."
Regarding the tie against City, Kompany expressed his excitement and said it will be a brilliant test for Championship leaders Burnley.
“I’m very excited by it because I know we will be stretched above and beyond what our limits are at the moment," he said. "I don't mind whatever comes, you know it's going to be an incredible day of learning and I see only opportunities in the fixture for us.
"From my role as manager it's a game of odds. The bigger the venue with it being at the Etihad, the smaller the odds of getting through to the next round."
READ NEXT