PARKER READY FOR "COLOSSAL" CITY TEST

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Burnley boss looks ahead to trip to Etihad Stadium on Saturday

2025-09-25T14:41:37.833Z

PARKER READY FOR "COLOSSAL" CITY TEST

Burnley boss looks ahead to trip to Etihad Stadium on Saturday

2025-09-25T14:41:37.833Z

MATCH PREVIEW: MANCHESTER CITY V BURNLEY - Image 5

'We worked tirelessly last season to be on stages like this one that's coming up on Saturday' were the words of Clarets boss Scott Parker ahead of this weekend's trip to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Burnley travel to the Etihad Stadium in Match Round six, buoyed by an impressive performance in the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest last weekend - and Parker is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against Pep Guardiola's side.

"City are a colossal team," he said. "They're such a high-level team, with quality throughout the squad, that it would be foolish to focus on individuals.

"We know the size of the challenge that City bring, but we worked tirelessly last season to be on stages like this one that's coming up on Saturday - and we're hugely excited about the challenge that lies in wait."

Parker has been encouraged by the Clarets' performances so far this term, and is challenging his players to continue to show their quality this weekend, commenting: "We’ve shown real resilience in a tough run of games, and the positives are clear – the belief, the togetherness, the courage to take our football to the very best teams in the league. And that’s what we’ll carry into City.

"Positive in how we play. Resilient in how we stand up, how we stick together and how we respond when it’s tough.

"It’s about focus, being positive and resilient in how we play, and giving ourselves a chance to get points."

All the dates, times, venues and streaming information you need for the week ahead

Parker's men have been praised in many quarters for their displays to date this term, and the Clarets boss admits he can feel the unity that is running throughout the club.

"When you're sat in this position, as manager, or as players, or as members of staff at the club, you need to feel that support of the fans - and we can feel it," he said.

"We've given the fans something to grab hold of so far this season. They've seen what we are and what we're going to be in the opening few weeks.

"The strongest clubs are those when everyone is on the same page and pulling in the same direction, understanding the challenges, not being knee jerk when things might go against us.

"When we need to be critical, and I'd expect that from the fans too, we will be - but on the flip side of that, you can lose football matches when you don't deserve to.

"I can feel a real togetherness is what we are. There's a bond, a focus - a humility to understand the position that we're in.

"At times, we will be underdogs and have to fight and scrap together, but with those traits, we'll have a chance."

He added: "Of course, it will be come down to quality too, and we've got that.

"But fundamentally, that bond that exists throughout the club and its fan-base will stand us in good stead - that's what helped us get 100 points last year.

"The journey will be different this year, we know that, but we're all in it together."