Vincent Kompany’s assessment on Burnley’s loss to Manchester City in the season opener was, “I have to focus on that.”

 

Vincent Kompany opted to focus on the

positives after his Burnley side were beaten

by reigning champions Manchester City in

their opening game of the season.

Matt Scrafton

The Clarets performed well in the main

against Pep Guardiola’s side on their return

to the top flight, but found themselves on

the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat.

That, in the main, was down to the ruthless

finishing of Erling Haaland, who netted a

brace, while Rodri added a second-half third.

Reflecting on his side’s display, Kompany

said: “There were some good things in this

performance and I have to focus on that side

of it against the best team in the world at the

moment.

“As I told the players after the first game in

the Championship last season, I don’t want

an emotional rollercoaster where you win

one game and you’re on a high and if you

lose one game you think it’s dramatic.

“We have to progress again and work

harder than every other team in the

Premier League. That’s our job. Progress,

progress, progress.

“It’s almost like an ideology thing, this team

has to be the worst it’s ever been this season

at this moment in time because you

progress all the way through the season.

 

Vincent Kompany, Manager of Burnley,

applauds the fans after the team’s defeat in

the Premier League match between Burnley

FC and Manchester City at Turf Moor

Yesterday

“The positives? You tell the team to get

something out of the game, you want to get a

result. That’s a given. But there are other

things in this game that create a foundation

for the season – winning tackles, going at

defenders one-vs-one, creating chances,

moving the ball, pressing…

“I can tell you periods of the game where I

wanted more but I can also give you a lot of

periods in the game where I thought they’ve

done themselves proud.”

Despite trailing 2-0 at the interval, Burnley

caused City plenty of problems in the first-

half and carved open some good openings.

In the second-half, by comparison, the

Clarets struggled to make much headway.

Kompany added: “I wish we could have

turned a little of the momentum in the last

20 minutes of the game and see if we could

throw a few more players on to create some

danger, but as it happened – especially with

the red card, albeit it came late on – the

game settled towards the end of the game.

 

“There are a lot of teams losing 3-0 to City

and they don’t even have one of these

moments we had and we had enough

tonight to get something. I’m not saying a

result, but to maybe get on the scoresheet or

something.

“But they’re the best team, even when they

defend the box you think you’re getting a

chance but they’re so quick at coming back

and they do it so well. For some of them it’s

bread and butter.”

Kompany handed five debuts from the start

to James Trafford – against his former side –

Dara O’Shea, Sander Berge, Luca Koleosho

and Zeki Amdouni.

Jacob Bruun Larsen also made his first

Clarets outing off the bench.

Kompany’s side ended the game with 10

men after substitute Anass Zaroury was sent

off for a cynical challenge on Kyle Walker.