Burnley boss Kompany REFUSES to put a ceiling on expectations

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany REFUSES to put a ceiling on expectations on their return to the Premier League… as he insists ‘it’s not in my nature to say success will be not being relegated’

  • Kompany will not buy into theory that survival is a realistic target next season
  • He enjoyed too much success as Man City captain to set his expectations so low
  • Core of his squad will get the chance to prove themselves in the Premier League 

It is only four days since Burnley lifted the Championship trophy and already Premier League survival would appear to be a realistic target for next season. Just don’t ask Vincent Kompany to buy into that theory.

Kompany knows the score but he enjoyed too much success as Manchester City captain to set his expectations so low.

‘The historical data would say there is always a big chance of relegation for any team who has been promoted,’ he says at Burnley’s training base.

‘Success will be defined differently than in the Championship, I think that’s fair to say. But let’s not put a ceiling on it.

‘As you can see, I physically struggle to pronounce the words of what success will be like. I cannot say that success will be not being relegated. It’s not in my nature. I will struggle to answer that question for the next few months.’ 

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has high expectations on their return to the Premier League

Kompany helped guide the Clarets to the Championship title with a whopping 101 points

Kompany was brought in to steady the ship after Burnley were relegated last season, but he did far more than that. The 37-year-old Belgian led the Clarets back to the top-flight at the first attempt with a total of 101 points.

The core of his promotion-winning squad will get the chance to prove themselves in the Premier League but, inevitably, tough decisions and new signings will be made to take Burnley to the next level.

‘I don’t like the word ruthless because it has negative connotations sometimes,’ says Kompany, who has already signed more than 20 players as part of the rebuild.

‘It’s my job to improve the team, whether that’s developing them or bringing new players in. It’s something that I consider as my duty.

‘Jack Grealish was in the Championship not so long ago and Kyle Walker went from Sheffield United, so we have a few players who are on that pathway. They might not be 100 per cent Premier League players yet, but they can shoot through that league if they keep the same attitude.’ 

Burnley chairman Alan Pace joked this week that having Kompany as manager is like dating a girl who will never marry you. ‘Everybody else wants to marry her so it’s, like, how long can you stay a couple,’ said Pace.

Kompany is not short of admirers but he hopes that signing a new five-year contract last weekend will reassure transfer targets that he isn’t going anywhere else in a hurry.

Burnley supporters lined the streets earlier this week to celebrate the club winning the league 

The Belgian has been linked with a move away but signed a new five-year contract last week

‘They say, “yeah, but surely you’re going to go, why would I sign for Burnley?” We needed to turn it around a little bit and this helps me. Over a period of time, people will come for the club and not necessarily the manager.’ 

Kompany is still adjusting to the transition from being a player. He laughs in agreement at the suggestion that his summer holiday won’t be quite the relaxing break it once was.

‘That’s fair to say,’ he says. ‘But it’s never been too much in my DNA to just put my feet up.

‘The main thing is to make sure you spend the time with the other people around you who do need it, and I intend doing that for sure.’

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