Vincent Kompany: Burnley’s wounds have healed from turf moor tears less than a year ago as the English Premier League welcomes the Clarets. Vincent Kompany’s Burnley beat Middlesbrough on Friday night to seal promotion with seven games still to play. A historic feat for the impressive Clarets who’s Premier League status restored at the first time of asking. Follow Premier League News Updates on InsideSport.IN.
The Clarets knew beating Middlesborough away and Luton failing to win against Millwall could well and truly restore their Premier League status, as Luton are 19 points adrift of Burnley in the third position. The Hatters drew at the Dens, which led to Kompany’s side the chance to clinch promotion at the Riverside against Boro. Goals from Ashley Barnes and Connor Roberts cancelled out Chuba Akpom’s penalty to win 2-1.
Vincent Kompany: A #PL manager. 💙pic.twitter.com/wmGfzNTHlK
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 7, 2023
After the game, Ashley Barnes hailed the triumph as ‘phenomenal’ as he admits his stay at the club could be over, as he is out of contract in the summer. Speaking to Sky Sports, he says, ‘After a difficult last season to get relegated and bounce back by going straight back up is phenomenal. I’m a bit emotional because this is my end of an era here as a Burnley player.’
‘To do that and score that goal for these fans, to give that back to them – I am quite emotional. It’s on the club. It’s time to move on, it’s just one of those things. I’m delighted for all the staff and all the fans. The fans have been through some tough times last season and it was nice to give that back to them.’
Moreover, praising the impressive work of manager Vincent Kompany, who worked wonders with the revitalised squad, he stated, ‘It’s a massive achievement [from Vincent Kompany]. It’s a credit to him and all his staff and the hard work they put in throughout the season. And it’s paid off for them.’
‘We had 17 or 18 new faces in at the start of the season so to bounce back in the way that we’ve done it already is just phenomenal for him. Hopefully we can finish it off and go as champions.’
Kompany arrived as the new manager of the Clarets at the start of the current campaign, following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. Burnley had spent a decade under Sean Dyche, who was relieved from his duties last season as the club met relegation last May.
The former Man City defender came into Turf Moor having previously managed his boyhood club Anderlecht for three seasons in Belgium. The appointment of Kompany was a relatively inexperienced one, as many senior players had left and concerns were raised over club finances. However, the appointment of the 36-year-old let the club into a new era where the squad was refreshed, something his predecessor Dyche wasn’t able to do.
Kompany’s hands-on approach to scouting was impressive on his part and made the most out of the loan market. He revitalised the team with a new style of playing, the Lancashire side brought in a high-tempo, possession-based game to entertain the fans. Having endured a difficult start to the 2022-23 season with just one win from opening five games, but since than there has been no looking back as the club is on course to reach 100 points.
Burnley have endured a stellar season this term, as the Claret just lost twice in the league with 39 games played standing tall at 87 points. All eyes will be on Vincent, as to how he approaches the 2023-24 Premier League.
