FARRELL: A WIN WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE LADS

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U21s Manager previews Premier League Cup final

2026-05-13T12:13:30.843Z

FARRELL: A WIN WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE LADS

U21s Manager previews Premier League Cup final

2026-05-13T12:13:30.843Z

U21s Manager previews Premier League Cup final

Despite working in the Burnley Academy for more than 25 years, U21s Manager Andy Farrell has never lost his passion for developing young players.

As such the former Clarets midfielder, affectionately known as ‘Faz’ by staff and players alike, is excited for the opportunity that awaits his team on Thursday night.

The young Clarets travel to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light to contest the final of the Premier League Cup, and when asked how good of a way lifting a trophy would be to finish the season, he said: “It would be great for the players.

“I’m 60 now, and I enjoy seeing the young lads get joy and happiness out of the game. Charlie (Adam) is exactly the same – it gives him a bit of a buzz.

“Playing in a Premier League Cup final will bring scouts and other people who might look at them and weigh them up too, so to a point, the performance is the biggest thing.

“If you win the game, your performance will become even better in the eyes of those people.

“Hopefully, they can get one over on Sunderland, but they’re a very good team and they have a very good manager in Graeme Murty.

“He’ll be trying to do exactly what we’re trying to do, but they’re in a better position with it being at their home ground.”

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It’s been a month since the U21s’ last competitive fixture – which was the semi-final victory over West Bromwich Albion in this competition.

The hard work hasn’t stopped at Burnley Training Centre, though, and there’s been an extra spring in the step this week.

“The boys have been quite bubbly and buoyant in training, and we’re all raring to get up to Sunderland and get on that pitch,” Farrell said.

“They’ve had plenty of conditioning days, so they’re definitely in a good place physically.

“We’ve done a lot of individual work where they’re having to work the ball and they’re getting plenty of touches.

“Box defending too – all the things you’d do in a normal week, but probably with a bit more focus on conditioning.”

This isn’t the first time these two teams have met this season.

Sunderland were 3-0 victors in a Premier League 2 fixture at Leyland in September, and all three of the Black Cats’ goals came before half-time.

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Reflecting on that night under the lights, Farrell continued: “I thought they were very good.

“We were a little bit too open and conceded the goals quite early, but after a chat we came out a little bit more compact in the second half.

“Competing with these teams is something we’ve always spoken to the players about. They’re all physically very good. They can run, they’re quick, they’re aggressive, so it’s not just about what you can do with the ball.

“If we’re compact, aggressive, and really well organised in terms of our press, hopefully we can keep them out, and we might be able to put one in at the other end.

“We’ve got individuals that can create something out of nothing.

“We’ve got pace in Vernon (Masara), Brandon (Pouani) is very good and very creative around his feet.

“There are things that Kian (McMahon-Brown) can do that you might not expect, too. His hold-up play is very good, he’s strong, and he’s got a really good finish off both sides.

“For any professional who plays in the lower leagues, like me when I ended up playing at the likes of Nottingham Forest and Manchester United (for Burnley) it’s a massive occasion to play at a big stadium.

“Hopefully, there’s a little bit of a crowd on, and it would be great to see some Clarets travel up to Sunderland to have a watch.”