KOMPANY DISCUSSES WATFORD CHALLENGE

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Boss previews Friday’s game at Vicarage Road

2022-08-11T09:00:00.000Z

KOMPANY DISCUSSES WATFORD CHALLENGE

Boss previews Friday’s game at Vicarage Road

2022-08-11T09:00:00.000Z

Clarets boss talks squad rotation and setting targets ahead of Reading visit

Clarets manager Vincent Kompany is looking forward to the challenge which will be posed by Watford, with the two sides meeting at Vicarage Road on Friday night.

Kompany addressed the media at the Burnley Training Centre yesterday, talking recruitment, a big month ahead and the Hornets:

Kompany on recruitment:

“Not every deal is feasible. There are players who have Clubs that don’t want to let them go, and we’re looking for the smart opportunities

“For me, it’s paramount this Club becomes one of the healthiest clubs in England again, competing on [the pitch on] the back of that as well. You can see that some of the players we’ve brought in already look interesting for the future.

“We’re keeping it diligent and at the same time, there’s no bargain to be had for our players who are playing at the moment. That’s paramount to us competing this season.”

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Kompany on the Clarets’ Belgian connection:

“There are two big parameters to take into account. I arrived here at the back end of June, and as a manager you usually get 12 months to look into players, but when 13 are going out the door, you need to replace them.

“The only way to diminish risk is by having an independent recruitment process, and by making sure there are names in there which you have knowledge of a bit of background on.

“It’s normal that there’s familiar faces here in my case. Belgium has one of the more physical leagues outside of England, so it’s a natural match.

“The better players outside of the top six there are still players who can perform in the Sky Bet Championship, and I know I can utilise that card. I wouldn’t have been able to if I was managing in Holland or Spain, for example.”

Kompany on managing the month:

“There are two dynamics which you manage – the now and the future. In general, you rely on your staff. We have a good recruitment system and good coaches who know exactly what to bring to the players.

“[In my managerial career], I’ve known nothing different than juggling those two dynamics.”

KOMPANY DISCUSSES WATFORD CHALLENGE - Image 2

Kompany on Watford:

“If we talk about teams who have come down, and look at the turnover of all three squads, we’re in a much more delicate situation with more room for error because we’re all new, myself included.

“Watford are still very much a team geared up to go back to the Premier League and then try to stay there.

“It’s the type of challenge for us to have at this time of the season though, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’d prefer to go there now because we will have a very good idea of where we are with the squad afterwards.”