‘MAIN FOCUS IS ON US GETTING A RESULT THERE’ SAYS KOMPANY

Clarets boss looks ahead to Wednesday’s visit to Manchester City

Although manager Vincent Kompany acknowledges Wednesday’s trip to the Etihad to take on Manchester City will always be a ‘special occasion’, the Clarets boss insists his main focus is on getting a result from the game but knows the challenge his side will face.

Kompany departed City in 2019 after 11 seasons at the club and returned to his old home for the first time last season in the Emirates FA Cup quarter final, but the Belgian won’t be distracted by a first return in the Premier League.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, the Burnley boss said: “Look, it’s always going to be a special occasion for me, but my main focus is on my job and that’s us getting a result there.

“My job takes too much focus on my days on how to get results and performances for Burnley, than to look at this game any differently.

“We know what they (Manchester City) are capable of but for us it’s a game where we can see what we can do against the best team in the world.

“Winning doesn’t happen at the first attempt or second attempt but it can come eventually and it’s about keeping that consistency and going about our usual business.

“They’re a very good team and we all know that. We just have to go there, compete and show the best version of ourselves on the night.”

City come into the meeting off the back of seven straight wins in all competitions and boast an unbeaten record at the Etihad all season.

Speaking about his former team, Kompany had high praise for Pep Guardiola’s side: “You learn from every single game you play and this will be another test for our team.

“City are a great side with top players and a top manager and you mix that combination together and it makes it a difficult side to play against.

“They are the best team in the world and whatever they bring to us, we just have to show our best side in the game.

“You can see the winning culture they have and that’s just the way the club is. You can have the culture in the building & the relentlessness, but we also have that here, just with a different outcome at the moment.”

The Clarets return to action following a 19 day break since last playing against Luton Town and Kompany says it has been a positive break for him and his squad, ahead of taking on Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the next four games.

“There’s been a gap between this and the last game and to be honest i’ve never experienced it before. The players have had a chance to reset a little bit and i hope they are recharged and ready to go for the next 17 games.

“We have to play everyone some time in the season and in which order I don’t think matters, we just have to try get results and we have been close.”