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CORK READY TO GO

Midfielder eager to get going in Turf Moor opener

2023-08-10T10:30:00.000Z

CORK READY TO GO

Midfielder eager to get going in Turf Moor opener

2023-08-10T10:30:00.000Z

Midfielder eager to get going in Turf Moor opener

Jack Cork insists the Clarets are ‘ready for it’ as Vincent Kompany’s side prepare to take on Manchester City on Friday night under the Turf Moor lights for the Premier League opener.

Cork is heading into his ninth season as a Claret across three spells and the experienced centre-midfielder says that mood in the camp is good after a strong pre-season and ‘there’s no better game’ to get the season underway with.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming campaign, Cork knows facing last season’s treble winners will be a challenging task and is well aware of the danger but one that him, the squad and the Club can look forward to.

Cork said: “There’s no good time to play them, you know how good they are, but if we can catch them at the start of the season, then it would be amazing.

“The mood around the place is good. Everyone’s happy and we worked really hard to get here.

“It’s one of the best leagues in the world and it’s just what everyone wanted to do last year. From the moment everyone started last season was to go up to the premier league.

“We’ve had a good pre-season. Some tough games in pre-season and to now start on Friday night on the first game of the season against the current champions who won the treble last year, there’s no better game for us.

“Sometimes previously we haven't got the greatest of records against Man City but things have got to change somewhere and hopefully it can be then. We’re ready for it and hopefully that means something.”

The last time the Clarets picked up a victory against the Premier League champions on the first home game of the season was when Robbie Blake’s wonder strike sealed a 1-0 win over Manchester United in 2009.

Cork is hoping history can repeat itself on Friday evening when Pep Guardiola’s side come to town and knows it has the potential to be a special night for all involved.

“The good win against Man United one time at home when Robbie Blake scored the goal. That was an amazing day for all the fans.

“A little bit of history again would be amazing for us to just cause a little upset at the start of the season.

“It will be a really challenging game don’t get me wrong, but if something like that could happen it would mean a lot to everyone at the Club and it would be a really special occasion.”

Cork is one of six players in the first team that weren’t signed by Kompany and the midfielder says it’s a good blend to have a mix of experienced senior players alongside young players experiencing the top-flight for the first time.

“If you look at the players when we did get relegated before the age of the squad was probably average early 30s late 20s.

“That was probably the age of the squad and now the club has gone the direction where they are trying to bring the age down.

“But, at the same time, you still do need a lot of experienced people in the club. We saw that last year with people like myself, Barnsey, Jay, Johann.

“You need these older heads to be able to show the younger lads, who aren’t used to English football and used to leagues like the Championship.

“You need them around to help out and it’s something not to be scoffed at having older people around as well as younger people.

“Everyone we’ve signed so far have been brilliant. They’ve been great professionals; great players and you can see the talent they brought into the football club.”