KOMPANY PRAISES TEAM DISPLAY AGAINST BENFICA

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Clarets boss reviews victory against the Eagles

2023-07-26T09:09:27.817Z

KOMPANY PRAISES TEAM DISPLAY AGAINST BENFICA

Clarets boss reviews victory against the Eagles

2023-07-26T09:09:27.817Z

Clarets boss reviews victory against the Eagles

Manager Vincent Kompany described his side’s performance as ‘brave’ as the Clarets ran out 2-0 winners on Tuesday night against last season’s Primeira Liga champions Benfica.

Goals from Owen Dodgson and Hjalmar Ekdal sealed the win in Lisbon after an impressive performance from the Clarets.

Speaking post-match in Portugal, Kompany praised his team’s display and says his side made it difficult in attack for Benfica.

The Burnley boss said: “Obviously we’ve played a team with such a talented squad and in the end, we had momentum at times.

“At times when they were good on the ball, I thought we were extremely aggressive and we were extremely brave in many moments, without dropping our standards on the ball as well.

“I think it’s that balance that you need to have when you face these teams and as much as we could, we made it difficult high up the pitch.

“They made 10 changes, so they had fresh legs for the second half and they had really good players, so in that moment in time when the game got tough physically we did what the game demanded and that was a positive today.”

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Arijanet Muric was included in the starting XI in the Portugese capital and the Kosovan was on hand to make a number of impressive saves.

Kompany applauded the 24-year-old’s performance against the Eagles.

“We’ve seen him do it before so it’s something that he’s extremely good at in those moments and we needed this.

“We were able to score some goals in the end but that double save made a big difference.”

The win was secured by goals from defender Dodgson and Ekdal, with Dodgson grabbing his first goal for the first team.

Kompany hailed the goals from the pair and was impressed with the build-up play.

“The funny thing is, I’m sure when you look at Dodgson on the scoresheet and Ekdal, you think two set-piece goals but in fact they were in open play, and they were well worked, and those two guys have ended up on the end of a goal and we’re really happy for them.

“Especially for one of our young players from our academy to get his name on the scoresheet in such a big game.”

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The Clarets announced new signing Luca Koleosho on Tuesday after joining from Espanyol on a four-year deal.

Kompany is hoping the Italian U19 international can follow in a similar successful pathway to his fellow midfielders.

“He’s quick, electric in his one v one actions, and I think we’re a team that’s been really successful with our plays in wide areas and we’ve had the likes of Benny (Benson), Anass (Zaroury) and other players as well like Nathan Tella and Gudmundsson that have done a lot of good things for us.

“I think he’s one of these players who can be exciting for the fans. He’s young but very talented.”