Burnley boss Kompany determined to learn from season of struggle

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany believes he is a better manager for this season’s experience of the Premier League.

The already-relegated Clarets will conclude their campaign with the visit of Nottingham Forest in what could have been a thrilling finale for both teams.

Forest are instead all but assured of their top-flight status for another season, but Kompany has a burning desire to get himself and the club back into the top flight at the first time of asking.

“I would like to think every year of experience makes you better, but you have to be willing to learn,” Kompany told a press conference.

“There has never been a moment where it is not the case, but then again I am also very conscious and very hungry.

“I am very motivated to cross that line again and be out there with the team, play more games. I know success is a thing of these moments as well and how you handle these moments.”

Kompany feels the squad have learned plenty, despite a tough season in which they have lost 23 of their 37 league matches.

He added: “The biggest thing about failure is that it allows you to draw a line and after that comes success. That is the way it works and that’s the way I have experienced it all my life.

“It is valuable, really valuable, and you only really ever fail if you fail to learn and that is absolutely not the case for us.

“We have learned and have no lack of motivation, no lack of desire. It is sometimes in human nature to sit down and sulk, feel sorry for yourself, but I don’t think it is in the culture here.

“I don’t think it is in my nature, in the nature of many people here and we try to give that to the players because ultimately it will help them achieve their goals.”

This week it was revealed Premier League clubs could vote on whether to keep VAR or not at the league’s annual general meeting next month.

The technology will not be of concern to Burnley next season given VAR is not used in the Championship, but the visit of Forest brings up controversial memories.

During a 1-1 draw between the clubs at the City Ground in September the Clarets felt aggrieved that a late effort by Lyle Foster was disallowed for handball.

Kompany pointed out: “It won’t be our concern any more next year, VAR.

“We’ve been on the unfortunate side where VAR has had a negative effect on our season. I think that’s undeniable.

“One of those games was the Forest game, but I don’t think we want to live in the past too much.”

Burnley announced on Saturday that Jack Cork and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will both depart this summer at the end of their respective deals.

Cork has made 266 appearances for the Clarets, initially joining on loan from Chelsea in 2010 and returning to East Lancashire on a permanent deal from Swansea in 2017.

He told the club website: “The club has been such a big part of my life for 14 years now. Both my kids are Burnley fans. It will always be a club that we’re close to. It’s gone so fast, it’s been some journey.”

“I just want to say a massive thank you to the fans. They’ve been amazing to me since I’ve been here. They’ve made me feel at home, made me feel so welcome from the start. Everyone at the club has been amazing with us.

“I’m looking forward to the next adventure but I don’t know how I’ll feel on Sunday. It’ll be nice to get to say goodbye to everyone. Everyone has been so good to us on the journey.”

Meanwhile, Iceland international Gudmundsson joined from Charlton in 2016 and went on to rack up more than 200 appearances at Turf Moor.

“It’s been a massive part of my career and I’ve enjoyed every single year," he added. "To play the last game at Turf Moor will mean a lot to me. I’m really going to miss this club.”

“It’s been the best time of my football time for sure. To be part of the history we’ve created over the last few years has been incredible. I really hope this club goes back to the Premier League because, in my mind, they should be there.”

Burnley confirmed talks are "continuing" regarding the futures of Charlie Taylor and Jay Rodriguez, who are also out of contract this summer.