KOMPANY RELISHING CITY TEST

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Clarets boss previews Premier League opener

2023-08-10T15:00:00.000Z

KOMPANY RELISHING CITY TEST

Clarets boss previews Premier League opener

2023-08-10T15:00:00.000Z

MATCH PREVIEW: BURNLEY V ASTON VILLA - Image 5

Manager Vincent Kompany wants his side and the Turf Moor crowd to 'embrace the game' as the Clarets host Manchester City on Friday night in the 2023/24 Premier League season opener.

City come to East Lancashire after winning the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup last season to face the Championship winners but Kompany is relishing the task his side face for the opening game.

Speaking to the media ahead of the fixture, Kompany describes taking on Pep Guardiola's side as one of the 'best challenges' his team could ask for and need to be at their best.

Kompany said: "We play against such a good opponent, a team filled with players and people that I know, of course, but probably the best challenge you could ever have, you could ever ask for.

"It will be a great night for everyone involved at a sold-out Turf Moor and I want the team to embrace this game and hopefully the fans can do the same.

"The start of the season is always about building cohesion as fast as you can and without it costing too many results but we’ve been through it before so we know what we have to be cautious about and we'll also have the opportunities once we’ve gone through it.

"We are well aware of the threats that City have and how strong of a side they are and we need to be at it."

It will be the second time Kompany has faced his former side as manager after coming up against the Citizens in March at the Etihad in the Emirates FA Cup.

Kompany admits despite the glorious history and connections he has with the club, it will be put aside on Friday night when his team look to get off to a flying start in the top-flight.

"It has been an awkward month or so with congratulations flying back and forth between a lot of the people I know there.

"They won the league, then FA Cup, then Champions League. They are people I have worked and lived with many years of my life. The contact will always be there.

"Now we have to put everything behind us and go toe to toe. We will try to do the best we can.

"Our concern is starting the league with everyone on zero points, so we have to get the best of ourselves and that is what we care about."

MATCH PREVIEW: BURNLEY V MANCHESTER CITY - Image 5

Leading up to the weekend's opener against the Citizens, Burnley added Sander Berge to the squad and bolstered midfield options after fan favourite Manuel Benson penned a new long-term deal on Wednesday.

Kompany is pleased to to add Berge to the team and hopes he can flourish at Turf Moor and had plenty of praise for Benson after signing for a further four years.

The Clarets chief said: "Sander Berge is a player with Premier League experience which is important for our team, we don’t have a lot at the moment.

"But everyone knows, a player with size, technically good, able to receive the ball either in the first phase in the build up or in between the lines a little bit higher up. So technically good. Good physicality and player who we hope we can bring to his full potential.

"Those who have followed him many years know that he’s a player that has real potential to access to the highest levels in the Premier League.

"With Benson, think with Benny for those who have followed us last year, you know, he has been a game changer for us and goals are difficult to find.

"Scoring from low exterior positions and all that data talk. But, the thing that’s more important for us is a player who can change a game whether he does it for 90 minutes or whether he does it in 30 minutes and these types of players we have to cherish them."