Burnley is facing a challenging start to the season in the Premier League. Their coach, Vincent Kompany, acknowledges that they must adapt to the complexities of this competition.
After easily clinching the Championship title with 101 points last season, Kompany’s team has only managed to gather one point from their first four matches of this season.
The Clarets got off to a poor start, losing three home games and conceding three or more goals each time.
However, they secured one point in a 1-1 draw on Monday night at Nottingham Forest. They almost got three points, but a remarkable equalizer by Callum Hudson-Odoi canceled out Zeki Amdouni’s first-half goal.
The result could have been better for Burnley if Lyle Foster’s late-minute goal hadn’t been overturned by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which found a handball by Sander Berge at the start of the match.
“We have to adapt to this,” Kompany said. “In the Championship, if it’s a goal, it’s a goal.”
“I have a decent understanding of coaching and the business side, but when it comes to the rules and legalities, I’m a bit puzzled.”
“Whether it’s a handball or not, they come and explain it to us, but I’ve decided to trust that they are doing their best and have good intentions.”
It seems lightning has struck twice at the City Ground. Swiss player Amdouni scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup match on August 30, and his opening goal this time almost secured three points.
The former Basel player seems to enjoy playing at the City Ground, with his two goals in this stadium surpassing any Forest player’s home goals this season. Meanwhile, Burnley’s young winger, Luca Koleosho, has consistently posed a threat and helped create the opening goal.
Kompany stated, “You have to fight for every point in this league, but from what I’ve observed in these four games, there are several teams we can compete with.”
“We haven’t had a perfect performance yet, but today was at least balanced, and depending on your perspective, you feel deserving of a win.”
“If we continue to improve, our team still has plenty of room to grow, and that’s what makes it exciting. There’s still a lot of room for further improvement in the future.”
After Hudson-Odoi’s stunning equalizer in the 61st minute, the game opened up, and Burnley was unlucky in their quest for victory.
Foster could have been the hero when his close-range goal was disallowed, but he turned into a villain when he was sent off in injury time for a reckless elbow on Ryan Yates.
The South African international has provided two goals and one assist this season, but he will be absent for three games due to his rough conduct, starting with the match against Manchester United on Saturday.
“It’s a shame,” Kompany said about the red card. “The effort he’s given for the team, how he’s shaped himself in the league, that should be prioritized.”
“However, he made a mistake, and his approach was somewhat reckless. He’s been open about his mental health in the past, so I’ll step back and ensure he’s ready for the next game.”
“He knows it himself, and we have to help him get back to the level he was at before that red card was issued.”
