Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says the champions had to be at their very best to beat an organised Watford side on Tuesday night.

Goals from Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez proved enough for City at Vicarage Road despite Abdoulaye Doucoure pulling a goal back late on in the 2-1 defeat.

Kompany believes City could easily have won the game by more, but praised the manner in which Watford went about their business.

“Every time we have played them they have been solid but the big difference was in the past we have put our chances away,” Kompany said.

“They are a team who try to press and they do not like to give up the ball and the game to the other team. That is what made it hard for us today.

“They make it harder for you than other teams because they do not sit back and they go for it as well.

“If you break the game down, the first 75 minutes is as strong as we have played really even if we could have been a bit more clinical.”

City looked to be cruising towards victory after an imposing display which could have seen them score more than twice but for multiple interventions from Watford’s Ben Foster.

Pep Guardiola’s side ended up having to hold on for the three points as Watford came on strong and Kompany praised the resilience they showed in doing so.

He said: “I think sometimes we take it for granted that this team will perform well and score a lot of goals. When you have to dig deep in the last 15 minutes like we did today, an away game, Tuesday night, I think we will take so much more from this one.”