DELCROIX “WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO”

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Defender looks ahead to Cherries game

2024-03-01T12:00:00.000Z

DELCROIX “WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO”

Defender looks ahead to Cherries game

2024-03-01T12:00:00.000Z

Defender looks ahead to Cherries game

In the week Hannes Delcroix turned 25, he and his teammates have been training hard in preparation for Sunday’s test against the Cherries.

The defender penned a three-year deal at Turf Moor in August 2023 and is relishing the opportunity to develop under renowned former defender and Clarets manager Vincent Kompany.

“For me personally I knew when I came to Burnley it wasn’t going to be easy with the jump to the Premier League. I knew I had to make more steps to become a starting player for Burnley.

“It’s not easy if you look at where we are in the ranking at the moment, but I think we as a team, we have made some steps and its just a matter of being persistent, keep improving and getting better every day.”

Delcroix joined RSC Anderlecht’s academy system in 2013 and climbed the ranks, making his senior debut in 2018. It’s at the Club that he met Kompany - a special experience for any defender.

“The first time he came to RSC Anderlecht it was a little bit special because I really looked up to him as a player. But then after one week or something it was just business, my trainer as I need to learn. It was always better that he had a background of a football player so that helps a lot as well. But for now on it’s more normal for me.”

DELCROIX “WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO” - Image 1

And was the Belgian a big factor in his move to the Northwest?

“He was a big factor. He knows me already and I like the playing style. It’s important also for me the Club is a great team to play for and being able to play in the Premier League is a very big factor for me.

“Both at Burnley and when I was at RSC Anderlecht, I’ve learnt a lot from him and it’s not only him, it’s the whole staff, assistant manager and everyone around us as well.

“It’s just a learning process and I think it’s important to learn every day, that for me is important.”

Having prior experience of working together, has he seen a change in his manager’s style over time?

“Yeah, I think so but the main thing for me as well is the reason that he hasn’t changed. He remains the same as well. There’s also something that needs to be said, he stays demanding for every player, which I remember in RSC Anderlecht. I think when you come up from the Championship to the Premier League, in your first year as well, I think you’re making steps. I think he is also learning and that’s the same for us as players, that we are learning now as well.

“At training we focus on every detail, so I think I’ve made steps. When you make mistakes in the games you learn from them.”

DELCROIX “WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO” - Image 2

Delcroix and the Clarets currently find themselves in a tough position in the table, but the Belgian is focussed on staying positive to navigate the challenges ahead.

“I think you have to stay positive. We as players, we’ll stick together.

“For me, my family are with me every day so that helps also.

“I’m not the guy who puts his head down and gives up so for me staying positive isn’t something difficult I’d say.

“I think we as a team, we can really manage it in our heads to stay positive.”

Sunday afternoon will see AFC Bournemouth make the long journey north to Lancashire in another important game for the Clarets. How is the defender feeling ahead of the encounter?

“I think like all the other games, at the moment every game is not easy, so we just need to be focussed during the whole game. We know how important the games are for us at the moment. I have a great feeling personally; I think the team…we can do something.

“I think since the last time we played Bournemouth we have made steps as a team, as a collective. We are able to get results and we know we have to start. We know it’s not going to be easy, but we know what we need to do. At training we will have a plan as well so I hope we will have some results.”