Vincent Kompany still dreams of winning the Champions League with Manchester City after coming through his latest injury nightmare.
The 31-year-old centre-back needed groin and thigh surgery after last season's semi-final defeat to Real Madrid, having been hindered by persistent calf problems during the campaign.
A series of niggles have held him back this time around under Pep Guardiola, while suffering knee ligament damage at Crystal Palace in November marked another damaging setback.
But Kompany returned to the City starting line-up for a 2-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Chelsea earlier this month and he has started and completed four of their past five matches, including a goal at Southampton and 120 minutes versus Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final.
An impressive performance during Thursday's goalless derby against Manchester United underlined how the club captain's reassuring presence might have steadied City during a coruscating Champions League last-16 tie with Monaco, where they bowed out 6-6 on away goals in his absence
"I have a contract until 2019. This club has given me everything. And I have always given everything, everything for this club," he told Play Sports' Hoogvliegers programme.
"I want to finish on a high. If that's in two seasons or later, we shall see. I don't want my ego to get in the way of the right decision.
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"Nothing is forever and an end will come, we should not be naive about it.
"I still believe that this club can win the Champions League. I've never doubted it because I see what is being built here.
"It's my only wish to be part of the squad that finally reaches that goal."
When City play Sunday and it's a Bank Holiday Monday! #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/u9lvl6dV3o
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 28, 2017
Kompany also retains lofty ambitions at international level and hopes his body can hold out for a final crack at the World Cup in Russia next year.
"For this generation, it is not the last chance, but for me it is," he said. "I know perfectly well that I can miss the tournament through injury.
"Many people would be afraid of it, play cautious and change. But I do not [want to] play the World Cup if I cannot be myself. The World Cup is a great motivation. "
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As at City, Kompany served as a long-time captain of his country, but current boss Roberto Martinez opted to move the armband on to Chelsea star Eden Hazard when the defender's fitness status remained in limbo.
"I do not hang on to the idea that I'm the leader or the captain or that I should be," Kompany added.
"Hazard has undergone a great evolution for the Red Devils, and that should be supported. Because he is the future, not Vincent Kompany."
