BERGE ON MAN CITY BATTLE

Midfielder on challenging evening against last season’s Champions

Sander Berge was pleased with elements of the Clarets game against Manchester City at the Etihad on Wednesday night, despite the home side taking the three points.

“It’s a really tough place to come, best team in the world, we know you have to be perfect in every moment, in every sequence out there and even today when we have our moments – we basically have to be so efficient. Make the most out of every possibility that you have, tighten up so much at the back and not give them anything.

“It’s tough when they get three goals, and they obviously create quite a lot. But we had periods in the game where we looked really, really strong and we looked solid, but they manage to hurt you no matter how good you’re doing in the duels and they are very good at keeping the ball, maintaining pressure and playing around their box.

“I admire them obviously; they are some team but there’s some things to learn from here and we move onto Saturday which is a massive game for us and we’re going for three points.”

Manchester City showed their scoring prowess early on, with Alvarez’s brace in the first half and Rodri adding a third 25 seconds after the restart. How did Berge feel the early goals, especially that in the second half, affect the mindset of the team?

“Yes it’s a tough one to go out and get the third so quickly. I think we lifted ourselves a little bit after that. 3-0 down but we were strong, tried to play a little bit more, managed to use the ball a bit better, came out of some build up areas where they were quite high with the team and then we managed to break that and you go four against four, three against three and get a goal in which is nice. But yes 3-0 after 50 minutes it’s a long way to come back.”

Al-Dakhil got a goal for the visitors in added time, his first for the Clarets – and Berge was pleased to see the left-back performing well.

“It’s huge, we know the qualities, we have a really strong squad. The depth is there, we’re a hungry team where 25/30 players always want to play and play a role. Ameen has come back in now and done well as left-back and it’s nice for him to get a goal, which will always up the confidence. Hopefully it’ll bring on that moment towards Saturday and see that if we believe and do our thing, anything can happen.”

New signing David Fofana made his debut for the Clarets, coming on in the second half, and the midfielder is familiar with his new teammate’s game and believes he has lots to bring to the squad.

“Absolutely. He’s a machine, he can create things on his own. He’s played in my country, in Norway, so I’ve watched him a little bit there and that action when he got the assist looked a little bit like what he’s done back home there. So, I’m excited to see more and he will bring a lot to the team.”

With attention turning to the weekend, Berge is looking forward to being back in action on home game against Fulham.

“It’s a completely different game obviously but Fulham is also a strong team, and we just have to keep working on our pattern. It’s a game where we will probably come out and have the ball more, create even more chances and be even more ourselves within that way. But we have to keep being strong defensively, they have a lot of power going forward and it will be a tight game as it was down there. As always it’s about being clinical in this league, being solid and tight at the back, keep pushing, play with intensity and be ourselves.”