PARKER REFLECTS ON DEFEAT AT THE ETIHAD

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Head Coach taking positives from performance

2025-09-27T18:38:52.449Z

PARKER REFLECTS ON DEFEAT AT THE ETIHAD

Head Coach taking positives from performance

2025-09-27T18:38:52.449Z

Head Coach taking positives from performance

Burnley boss Scott Parker believes the scoreline didn't necessarily reflect his side's performance in Saturday's defeat to Manchester City.

Speaking after the game, the Clarets Head Coach said he was going to take the positives from the encouraging signs he saw for large parts of the game at the Etihad against tough opposition.

“I don't think the scoreline reflected our performance really. For 60, 70 minutes we were every bit the team I wanted us to be today. Coming to an incredibly difficult place, the colossus of the team, which I mentioned in my press conference leading into this, with world class players.

“You come to places like this; the game can quickly run away from you. City get a goal in front, we show unbelievable character, courage, bravery at times to take the ball off them and show our quality which I asked in abundance from the players today. Get ourselves back at 1-1.

“Come out for the second half and start really, really brightly. But I've been here many a time, the two goals back-to-back were quick goals really, and it probably dented us a little bit. Even then after that, I thought our reaction again was, trying to probe, trying to be a threat. Then it’s fair to say the back end of the game is a little bit disappointing, it probably goes away from us, we chase it, but it goes away from us.

“I personally didn’t see it as a 5-1 game. The facts are that’s what goes down in print. But a lot of positives today.”

PARKER REFLECTS ON DEFEAT AT THE ETIHAD - Image 1

Jaidon Anthony got the Clarets back in the game in the first half and the visitors did come close to scoring twice at the beginning of the second and Parker says it's those encouraging signs that he'll be taking forward.

“They were massively encouraging signs. I’ve been here many a time, I don’t think I’ve stood on the touchline for 60, 70 odd minutes, seeing one of my team’s produce what they were producing really and that came from loads and loads of things. Defensively we were pretty sound, with the ball you know, we looked a very, very good team.

“So, yeah, there were some huge, huge positives from today, of course, we’re hurting, the players are as well, they’re down and I am as well. I’ve got some vast experience, and sometimes I can have more of an understanding and be a bit more rational when I break down a performance and while I am disappointed with the scoreline, I'm not going to be overreacting on that. I don’t want my players to be overreacting on that because this is a difficult place to come, and we did immensely well for a large part.”