Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City took no risks in playing Vincent Kompany on Tuesday night.

With City seemingly through to the quarter-finals ahead of the Champions League Round of 16 second leg, Pellegrini could have been forgiven for resting Kompany against Dynamo Kiev at the Etihad Stadium.

City were 3-1 ahead following their convincing win in Ukraine last month but the Belgian centre-half, who has been plagued by calf injuries all season, took his place in the starting line-up only to be subbed off after aggravating the problem area inside seven minutes.

Kompany is now expected to miss at least a month of action but Pellegrini says there was no danger in playing the 29-year-old who is now certainly sidelined for Sunday's crucial derby with Manchester United.

"You always take a risk - the work during the week is also a risk. But he had recovered without any problem," said the Chilean.

"It was the sixth game (since his return), but he had not felt any problems before the games, so I think it was not a risk and bad luck only."