Tarkowski: We Should Still Be Pleased

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Stand-in skipper happy with season's work as Clarets overcome big challenges to stay up

2021-05-23T19:02:16.794Z

Tarkowski: We Should Still Be Pleased

Stand-in skipper happy with season's work as Clarets overcome big challenges to stay up

2021-05-23T19:02:16.794Z

Stand-in skipper happy with season's work as Clarets overcome big challenges to stay up

James Tarkowski praised the character in the Clarets’ squad that has helped pulled them through one of the most demanding seasons they have faced.

Sean Dyche’s men signed off with a 1-0 defeat at relegated Sheffield United to finish the campaign with three successive defeats.

But Tarkowski believes there is still plenty of room for satisfaction after overcoming numerous challenges to finish 11 points clear of the Premier League’s bottom three in 17th place.

Tarkowski: We Should Still Be Pleased - Image 1

“I like to look at it overall now the season has finished,” said Tarkowski, who captained the Clarets at Bramall Lane in the absence of an injured Ben Mee.

“It's been a tough, hard season and the fact that we’ve stayed in the league and picked up some great results that have kept us in the league is really pleasing overall.

“Today is a disappointment but the season overall for myself and for the team, we are pleased.

“There have been lots of circumstances as well; a change of owners, a lot of injuries, no new faces coming in when we lost a couple of players, so it’s been tough.

“We stuck at it and the character of the squad and the mentality of the squad has always been there, so it’s pleasing.

“When you look at the teams have gone down they are not bad sides.

Tarkowski: We Should Still Be Pleased - Image 2

“Sheffield United were excellent last season, so it just shows how difficult it can be.

“We stuck at it and now we re-group, re-focus to come back strong and ready to go again.”

After missing the first two games of the season with a foot injury – as the Clarets went the first seven matches without a win – Tarkowski started every Premier Lague game since.

And after being an ever-present last season in a campaign that didn’t finish until July, due to the Covid-enforced lockdown, the defender is ready for a well-earned breather.

“It will be nice just to have a little lie-in here and there without coming into training and putting in the hard miles,” Tarkowski told Clarets+

“It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, but it’s been a long, hard graft this last year so I’m looking forward to putting the feet up.

“It’s a chance to re-charge the batteries the break. We had a very short break in between (the seasons) last time, so the break will be nice and then look forward to going again next year.”