KOMPANY REFLECTS ON CITY PERFORMANCE

Clarets chief discusses Etihad display and focus turning to Saturday

Despite Vincent Kompany being disappointed with the result at the Etihad, the Clarets boss wants his side to take the positives from the performance and move full focus straight onto the weekend.

A Julian Alvarez brace and Matheus Nunes strike secured all three points for Manchester City on Wednesday night with a stoppage time consolation goal from Ameen Al-Dakhil as the game drew towards a close.

Speaking post-match in Manchester, Kompany highlighted the ‘dangerous’ moments his side posed against the Citizens but acknowledged his disappointment with the goals conceded to Pep Guardiola’s men.

The Burnley boss said: “Look, it’s never great when your team loses. We played against a great side, we know that and it felt like a lot had to go our way for us to get something from this game.

“In moments we were dangerous and showed moments but the goals we conceded we could have avoided, but we played against a top side.

“I am disappointed with the goals conceded. My job is to give the guys support in these moments but of course to hold them accountable, we faced a very good side that will exploit every single mistake and weakness.”

Kompany added: “I can’t tell my defender to run faster. There’s a moment that happens with the first goal which is the individual quality of the opponent and you have to recognise that.

“Of course you have to mark in the box and you have to be alive on set plays and everything else, but going into Fulham it’s still the same feeling.

“We’re going into every game showing bits that should make us confident for the rest of the season. In every single game we will go. For us now we have to move on and go to Fulham, that’s the focus for us now.”

Al-Dakhil’s goal on the night was his first for the club and was teed up by debutant David Datro Fofana as the Ivory Coast forward weaved into the area and picked out the Belgian defender.

Kompany had praise for the 21-year-old and was pleased to see the second half substitute make an impact off the bench.

“I thought all the players that came on did well for us. I think that’s what you need in these moments, a bit of individual action that creates some space and then being in the right space.

“David did that in that one moment and we’ll need that. It just helps the squad. We relied a lot on some of our players that have been really important but we also need these guys to come and have an impact and today he had a very positive start.”