Manuel Pellegrini has said that Vincent Kompany's fitness problems are down to the fact that he constantly plays at maximum intensity.

Kompany has been ruled out of today's Premier League clash with West Ham at the Etihad due to a calf injury that he picked up against Juventus on Tuesday.

However, Pellegrini has said that he will not request his team captain to change his approach to matches.

"The way he plays, Vincent plays with 100% intensity, not every match, but every training session," Pellegrini is quoted as saying by Goal.com.

"So it's not just one problem - that's the way he always works.

"It's difficult. It is not easy for him, but he has his characteristics - it's not easy for him to change."

City face West Ham at 5.30pm today.