“Vincent has put Burnley in good company”- Vincent Kompany hailed on social media after Burnley qualifies for Premier League
Burnley gains automatic promotion with seven games to spare
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Burnley has secured promotion to the Premier League following the 2-1 win against Middlesbrough with a record seven games to spare. The Clarets have been sensational this season under Vincent Kompany and are favorites to go on and secure the Championship title. The club is now 11 points clear of Sheffield United in second place and 19 ahead of the playoff race and third-placed Luton Town.
Burnley had spent a decade under the rule of Sean Dyche, which petered out with his sacking and the club’s relegation last May. Many of the senior players left and there were serious concerns over the club’s finances, so the appointment of the relatively inexperienced Kompany was a risk. The former Manchester City defender was brought in to oversee a significant change at Turf Moor during the summer and the boss has not disappointed, creating one of the most exciting teams in English football.
Top scorer Nathan Tella, on loan from Southampton, has excelled alongside other loanees like Ian Maatsen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Chelsea and Manchester City respectively, leaving Burnley facing a dilemma when it comes to retaining their top performers next summer. Burnley’s promotion with seven games to spare is a record since the competition was rebranded in 2004-05, and Kompany’s men will now set their sights on the 100-point mark, which would require them to win 13 more points from the 21 still on offer to them.
Kompany will be insisting his charges remain focussed on the task at hand, securing the Championship title. In the longer term, he will be working hard to keep hold of Southampton loanee Nathan Tella, who has starred for the Clarets this season, as well as strengthening his squad with several other signings. Burnley faces second-placed Sheffield United on Tuesday.
A look at a few players that have been integral in Burnley’s success
On loan from Southampton, Burnley will be desperate to keep hold of Nathan Tella next season. After scoring twice on his debut, he has gone on to notch up 17 goals including two hat-tricks, in 28 Championship starts this term. Likely to come with a hefty price tag, but with Southampton languishing in the relegation places in the Premier League, Tella might be unwilling to stay in the Championship for another season.
A rock at the back, Taylor Harwood-Bellis was integral in them pulling away at the top before injury struck in early January, but after returning to full fitness, he has made a seamless return to action. Currently, on loan from Manchester City, Harwood-Bellis first met his manager as an academy player at the Etihad and later joined him with a loan spell at Anderlecht. His growth under Kompany has been a sight to behold and there is a belief there are more gears to go through.
Anass Zaroury has chipped in with big performances from the left wing. The Moroccan winger scored the fastest Championship goal of the season in December in Burnley’s 3-0 victory over Birmingham City, netting in just 49 seconds. Kompany has gone on record to say how Burnley may well have missed out on the winger had they waited any longer, such is his rapidly elevating stock.
Another loanee, this time from Borussia Monchengladbach, the central defender, Jordan Beyer who has a pass completion rate of 92 per cent, is sharp in possession and strong out of it. Given Kompany’s illustrious career in the position, there are few better tutors in the game than the Belgian and it is showing for Beyer. He could cost significant money in the summer, but Burnley has the option to buy at the season, and will no doubt look to secure the defender’s services long-term.
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Arpan Ghosh
(1403 Articles Published)