KOMPANY FULLY FOCUSSED AHEAD OF TERRIERS VISIT

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Clarets manager looks ahead to return to Turf Moor

2023-02-23T18:31:19.705Z

KOMPANY FULLY FOCUSSED AHEAD OF TERRIERS VISIT

Clarets manager looks ahead to return to Turf Moor

2023-02-23T18:31:19.705Z

Clarets manager looks ahead to return to Turf Moor

Vincent Kompany faced the media ahead of hosting Huddersfield Town at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The home fixture comes after back-to-back away games, against Luton Town and Millwall, which saw the Clarets pick up four points out of a possible six.

Saturday's fixture will see a new face in the visitors dugout, with the announcement of new manager Neil Warnock, who led the side to a victory over Birmingham City last weekend.

When asked if he was wary of the new manager bounce, Kompany said: “I mean we are in a league where there’s been 18 managerial changes already this season, so, I don’t know if that’s something that’s a lesson to learn but it’s happened quite a few times. I think we’ll do as we’ve done so far and just focus on being good on the day.”

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It was Burnley who took the three points when they travelled to Yorkshire for the first game of the season back in July, an Ian Maatsen goal in the 18th minute securing the win on the night.

“It was an important day for us because if I look back at this game it kind of, if you would have taken two or three months to have a performance like this then, at the end of it we would have had a lot of suffering and then telling them, look boys this is how it looks if you do it right. It just came off on day one and it allowed us to say ok, if the next run of performances isn’t as good, you know what you can achieve if you just apply yourself.

“I’ve never had it before where the first performance was as good, but it definitely helps.”

The game comes at the end of a busy week for the Clarets, following two trips to London earlier in the week. However challenging, the manager is pleased with the performances and points picked up.

“It was a part of the calendar that we already had ear marked for a long time, we knew this is going to be a period where we have to get through it. It’s like, build up the amount of points you can before you get through that period, and then get the points when you’re in that period.

“I think it’s gone to plan, it’s done now, four out of six. We felt like the performance against Millwall was good as well, that’s always a bonus and we look forward to the next run of games.”

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Striker Ashley Barnes scored the winning goals in the last two games and Kompany is happy with the experience he brings in front of goal.

“He’s always been a great player, with Barnsey the only thing we had Jay Rodriguez doing extremely well in the beginning of the season, he had to be patient and then when he got his chance he took it. That’s literally all it is and like I said at the start of the season, I felt happy that we had Barnsey and Jay Rodriguez, I didn’t know in what order, but I was pretty sure we were going to need both of them and now it’s Barnsey’s moment.”

Finally, Nathan Tella who scored a hattrick when the Clarets were last on home turf against Preston North End, was named on the bench for Tuesday night's visit to The Den but the manager confirmed he'll be back in contention for Saturday.

“It was a bit of a scare for us but in the end he’s there. I think before the Millwall game the assessment was that the risks were too great for him to start, but we’re just happy that he’s back and he’ll be fit and fully available for the next game.”