Burnley

Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester United.

Here are the key lines from the Burnley manager:

• On whether they have a glimmer of hope for survival: “Game by game at this moment in time. Just gives us one opportunity to fight - that is all we need and we spend so much energy in training to get the team to the best possible level. Saturday against Sheffield United was one game and that [win] gives us an opportunity."

• On facing Manchester United: "It is a meaningful game and has been for many years in my life. It is really about Burnley and it is for this club and I want to be successful on Saturday. As a manager, you do keep the experience as a player. I have to transfer something into them so they feel they belong to play in that game and win."

• On United's 4-2 win over Sheffield United on Wednesday: "They have some high quality players in the final third. They have had struggles with injuries but when you play Man Utd you play a top team in the country and you have to embrace the challenge."

• On the FA's written reasons for why he was sent off against Chelsea: “I was very clear about that on the day and the words that I used, especially mentioning 'cheat' and questioning the integrity, that is not what I think. That is why I apologised for my comments, when the mist comes down my goal is to be with the team."

• On why Burnley's form has improved: “Consistency and hard work [and] making sure you don’t allow the noise [to distract]. The universal recipe is consistency which will make you improve and we still have room to improve. It is a very calm club- we have put in the hours to improve the players."

• He is taking a level-headed approach to the final four games of season: “You cannot really focus on the other teams, you have to focus on yourselves and it is unpredictable, so anything can happen. What we have lacked is three pointers. We have some but I would like to push it again and for the team to make the next step. It is a tough game, but whether it’s United or another team, I want them to make the step up."

• On his future at the club after being linked with a move to Brighton: "I never answer questions about my future. Ever."

Follow the rest of Thursday's Premier League news conferences

Live commentary of Man Utd v Burnley from 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

Don't say it.

Don't say it.

Don't say it.

I can't help myself. THE GREAT ESCAPE IS BACK ON!

It has been a season with very little to cheer about, but two moments of joy have come in the games against our rivals for the league's wooden spoon: Sheffield United have lost both games to us, conceding nine goals along the way. Looking at the table, you can see why many are speculating that this may well have reignited our survival hopes.

Now I understand the raised eyebrows. I get it. I really do. We will probably go down. The table looks miserable. But I was reminded this weekend that there is literally nothing to lose in our dreaming of the great escape. Quite frankly, what else have we got to get excited about in these last four games? So we might as well have a bit of fun and hope.

Everton beating Forest was a cracking result (thanks Sean, love you), especially given we have to now play Forest. And while I can definitely share frustrations over refereeing decisions, Forest seem to want to make things even harder for themselves at the moment. Maybe, must maybe, that strong Burnley jaw gets us over the line. We have finally started to show some signs of improvement, playing much more confidently in the higher press and scoring goals.

On paper, we have two winnable games and two tough games - as Coventry showed us this weekend, Manchester United have weaknesses. Forest have three winnable games, are ahead of us in the table and get to play Sheffield United. So perhaps we are being very naïve here.

But this is football. And if you can't dream the impossible then maybe this isn't the game for you.

UTC!

Natalie Bromley, No Nay Never podcast, external

Is it too little too late for Burnley?

The New York Times' chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith says there has been a significant improvement in the Clarets' performances recently, but it might not be enough to survive relegation.

"If you looked at the table at the beginning of March, you would have thought they would have gone by now," said Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"It might be too late, but they suddenly look more solid and obdurate. They looked naïve at the start of the season and Vincent Kompany has had to coach them through that because they have an inexperienced squad.

"It has taken a long time to get to this point but now they do not concede as many goals.

"It is better late than never but I wonder if they have timed this good run slightly wrong. And their run of fixtures is not ideal."

Burnley play Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham, before hosting fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest on the last day of the season.

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Image source, getty images

Burnley have not begun the search for a successor to manager Vincent Kompany, BBC Sport understands.

A report, external from a Belgium journalist today suggested Brighton have identified Kompany as a replacement for Roberto de Zerbi, should the Italian leave the Seagulls this summer.

But there is no truth in the rumours that "informal talks" have already taken place between Brighton and Kompany's entourage.

Statements on X have been plentiful in recent days and now Clarets chairman Alan Pace has waded in, seemingly dismissing such chat.

"This is what happens when you let children play on X," wrote, external Pace.

Relegation-threatened Burnley beat bottom side Sheffield United 4-1 on Saturday and are now just three points adrift of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest in the chase for Premier League safety.

They travel to face FA Cup finalists Manchester United on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Monday, 22 April marks Earth Day - a day in the international calendar that provides the opportunity to reflect, make change and understand more about sustainability and the impacts of climate change.

Sport and football are not immune to these issues and there has been increasing awareness of their relationship to the environment over the past few years.

Football has a global footprint and, as it continues to grow, it has been subject to questions and criticism over some of the decisions that could hinder efforts in reducing its impact, including expanding Uefa cup competitions and the men's Fifa World Cup.

The effects of adverse weather related to climate change has been increasingly felt, with a study last year showing extreme weather has affected 40% of football players and spectators.

But, football and its fanbase also have an opportunity to be part of the solution, with clubs like Forest Green Rovers showing how the sport's environmental footprint can be reduced.

We have taken a look into some of the key things Burnley are doing to become more sustainable:

• 100% of the energy consumed by the football club is generated from renewable sources.

• The club have reduced the number of parking spaces at the stadium and encourage sustainable travel, while a car share scheme is established and operated by the first-team players for training.

• The training ground is habitat to a number of protected species - snipes, bats, voles, newts and various flora - and regular surveys are undertaken to ensure no detrimental impact on them.

• Clarets season cards will no longer be reissued every year, saving about 12,000 plastic cards being sent out each season.

• A supporters' group - Sustainable Clarets - has been formed and the club are engaging with them to use their knowledge and expertise.

One important area all Premier League clubs can address to reduce their carbon footprint is their travel, as shown in BBC Sport research.

Why is this important?

Football For Future is a non-profit organisation working with stakeholders across football to create a more environmentally sustainable culture and founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop told BBC Sport: "Climate change will be the defining challenge of our generation, and the future of football will be affected too.

"We're already seeing the impacts, with more than 120,000 English grassroots games being called off annually, and major tournaments such as the World Cup and Afcon being moved because of extreme weather.

"Beyond the pitch, the climate crisis threatens livelihoods and global food and water security.

"With its unparalleled social influence, football has an opportunity to inspire global climate action, from micro-behaviours to essential policy change."

What would you like to see your club do more (or less) of to be greener?

We asked for your views on Sheffield United's defeat against Burnley on Saturday.

Here are some of your answers:

Sheffield United fans

James: If Wilder thinks there was “no lack of fight” then he needs an eye test. Spineless players, Sunday league goalkeeper and a disappointing lack of anger from fans. This club is being run into the ground by an absent owner who doesn’t care and the response is just apathy.

Bob: Absolutely ridiculous. Worst game at the lane I have ever seen! Whole load of players and the manager have to go at the end of the season!

Chris: The irony is is that Burnley were the worst (away) team to visit us all season. We should have been 3-0 up before our keeper needed to make a save. But that's where the issues lie - Grbic is garbage. The biggest cheer before the goal was ironic from the Blades when he managed to save a dribbler.

Burnley fans

Mark: Thought we played well and finally took our chances in front of goal. We played like we were fighting for our lives and we had good spirit. Larsen played well as did Da Silva on the wing and did a good assist. I know some fans have got on his back this season but he's improved game by game. All of the team should be proud of themselves.

Jack: Was an excellent watch in the away end. Excellent atmosphere and certainly gives us a glimmer of hope for survival. It’s a shame that this form has come so late - but better late than never.

Simon: We were very average and still managed to win comfortably, we could have easily conceded two or three but it goes to show the level us and Sheffield United are at. We have a glimmer of hope but no more. I hope we can at least finish the season strong - and who knows?

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards believes Burnley have a "free hit" in terms of fighting for Premier League survival because everyone has "assumed they're down for weeks".

Vincent Kompany's team thumped Sheffield United 4-1 on Saturday to move within three points of safety with four games left to play.

"Burnley are not totally out of it," Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"We have to qualify and quantify that result as Chris Wilder has basically said his side have given up this season.

"But they've got a chance. The problem is I think they've probably left it a little too late.

"They'll feel aggrieved, as Vincent Kompany has said, that there was some games earlier in the season they can feel a little bit hard done by. I still think it's a big ask.

"I can just see Everton and Nottingham Forest having enough. They'll pick up enough points to keep themselves up

"Burnley had to win, they have done, and they're still fighting - just as Luton are.

"We've all assumed they're down for weeks and it's almost a free hit for them now.

"It will be the team that copes with the pressure the best that will stay up."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's three Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games here

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary in full:

Luton Town 1-5 Brentford

Vincent Kompany spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Burnley's win against Sheffield United: "He [goalkeeper Muric] has made fine saves in every game. For us it is not an option top not back our players. We have been exposed to a very high level. We have to back the talent they do have. Today was a match-winning performance.

"The time they score their goal couldn't be worse and then you are looking to see if nerves will settle. We did what we had to do in the business end of the pitch.

"That is the urgency we have to bring to every game. We can look forward that every game we shouldn't have any fear and to go for it. This league is filled with difficult games. It will always be the toughest challenge.

"The main thing I care about is the team keeps going, that we play with no fear and we focus on our own development. This is where we get the results from - the fact we get better."

• Sheffield United have become just the third team in history to concede 50+ goals at home in an English top-flight campaign, after Aston Villa in 1935-36 (56) and Chelsea in 1959-60 (50).

• Burnley have scored nine goals against Sheffield United in the Premier League this season, the outright most they’ve netted against an opponent in a campaign in the competition (overtaking seven vs Bournemouth in 2018-19).

• Burnley’s Jóhann Gudmundsson scored just 17 seconds after coming on as a substitute, while it was his first strike in the competition since February 2021 v Crystal Palace – ending a run of 50 Premier League appearances without a goal.

• Only Oliver McBurnie in January 2024 (5 games) has had a longer run of either scoring or assisting at Bramall Lane for Sheffield United in the Premier League this season than Gustavo Hamer (3 games - 1 goal, 2 assists).

• Lorenz Assignon became just the second Burnley defender to both score and assist in a Premier League game, after Daniel Fox did so in a 2-1 victory over West Ham in February 2010.

Burnley gave their Premier League survival hopes a huge boost with a vital victory to push bottom side Sheffield United further towards relegation.

A must-win game for both sides went the way of Vincent Kompany's men as clinical finishing allowed them to move just three points off safety, while Chris Wilder's side are now 10 points adrift.

The Clarets were second best for much of the first half with Arijanet Muric making crucial saves to keep his side in the contest, before they scored twice in the space of three minutes.

On-loan Jacob Bruun Larsen broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when his scuffed volley took a deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Ivo Grbic to dribble in at the near post.

In the next attack Burnley doubled their advantage courtesy of full-back Lorenz Assignon weaving through and poking home via Grbic's outstretched leg and the crossbar.

Muric made an outstanding save to deny James McAtee's strike which was bound for the top corner, but he could do nothing about Gustavo Hamer cutting inside and curling in a sumptuous finish to give Sheffield United hope.

But the visitors restored their two-goal advantage following Lyle Foster's tidy, first-time finish from Assignon's cross and substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson added a delightful fourth for a thumping triumph.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

How did you rate the side's performance, Sheffield United fans?

Burnley fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

Follow all of the reaction here

There is three Premier League matches on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

All times are BST

BBC Radio 5 Live commentary:

• Luton v Brentford

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on singer-songwriter and Arsenal fan Sam Tompkins.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Both of these teams have had a very similar habit in recent weeks of shooting themselves in the foot.

I felt for Clarets boss Vincent Kompany after Arijanet Muric's latest mistake gifted Brighton an equaliser last week. Kompany took James Trafford out of the team because of his form, or lack of it, but whoever he picks in goal, they keep costing Burnley points.

I actually think Burnley will get the job done this time, though. They beat Sheffield United 5-0 at Turf Moor earlier in the season and I am expecting them to come out on top again.

The Blades will give everything but Burnley will have a bit too much quality for them, and I'm afraid that's been the story of Sheffield United's season.

Sam's prediction: 1-0

This is probably Sheffield United's biggest game of the season. I don't think they are getting out of the bottom three, but a win here would give them a bit of confidence.

Read the rest of their predictions here

Image source, PA Media

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany feels they are "running out of games" to save their Premier League season.

The Clarets, who sit 19th in the table, face bottom-side Sheffield United on Saturday.

It is seen as a must-win game for both of the promoted sides if they are to keep their slim hopes alive of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

"If you were to draw a line and restart the league almost at this calendar year, I think this team is on the way to becoming hopefully an interesting proposition for this league," Kompany said.

"But we're running out of games so it has to happen in the next [five].

"We're still nowhere near getting the results we think we could. The games are decided in the final third and it's been on a knife-edge. That's where you want it because it gives us a chance.

"[Since] the start of the season we've had valuable additions in January, we've recovered a few players as well. It's been fine margins for a while now, that's the nature of the league."

Kompany's side have not left the relegation zone all campaign after a slow start, but they have picked up some form recently having lost only one of their past six.

"The biggest thing for me is this season, the amount of times at the end of the game we're sat in the staff room and looked at ourselves and said 'How did we not come away with a win or a point?"' he added.

"That's been the season. We can pin it down to some key moments. But we can look back as much as we want. It's about the five games in front of us."

Image source, Getty Images

Burnley manager Vincent Kompany has issued a rallying cry to his players before Saturday's Premier League game at fellow strugglers Sheffield United.

The Clarets are looking to do the double over the Blades, after a 5-0 win at Turf Moor in December.

"This could be a game of fear or a game of no fear," Kompany said.

"Our approach is no fear - go for it. We've had good performances and bad performances this season, but our goal is to take on the game the way we feel it should be approached.

"It's a privilege to be in this league and to be able to showcase all the good things about our team at this level. It's brought us closer to results, doing that, and we hope it's something that on the day we can achieve.

"I don't see how a draw is good for either team. If it was a draw on Saturday it will be in other places they'll be happy about the result."

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has been speaking to the media before Saturday's trip to face Sheffield United in the Premier League (15:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference

• Kompany confirmed he "shouldn't have too much change from the last game" in terms of injuries and midfielder Josh Brownhill is "not out of contract" this summer.

• On his team's recent performances: "For the first 10, 12 games it was too often teams could pull away from us. We had to change a few things and, from that moment onwards, we've been nearly in every game. It looks like we're closer to results recently but it's still the same thing of rewarding our performances. We've been good but we could have had a lot more points."

• On his goalkeeper situation after Arijanet Muric's two high-profile errors in their past two games: "Not a difficult position at all. I've had the type of season where I've had to back my players. It's not an issue of talent but you can't force consistency. It's the nature of the season we're in. We've supported Traffs [James Trafford] when he's made mistakes and we will do the same with Muro [Muric]."

• Kompany conceded his side must win at Bramall Lane: "It's been a must-win for a while for us now, but I guess you get down to the wire. It's a must-win game for both teams, for sure."

• On Saturday's opponents: "They've had a change of manager, of course. There are differences there. At the same time, from our side, we don't have anything to lose. It's going to have that little bit of a cup final feel to it. We should embrace that."

• On keeping faith in the fight for survival: "We've been written off about 15 games ago. We're still there. We're still fighting. You have to force your own luck and have belief, no fear and attack the game."

Follow the rest of Thursday's football news

Here are the key facts before Sheffield United host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 BST).

• Sheffield United have conceded 84 goals in their 32 Premier League games this season. That is the most at this stage of a top-flight campaign since Ipswich Town in 1963-64 (85), and the most the Blades have conceded in a league campaign since 1954-55 (86 in 42 games).

• Burnley have dropped 24 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, with only Brentford (30) losing more. Meanwhile, Sheffield United have let 17 points slip when winning this term, only losing more in 1993-94 (25).

• Despite no team using more players in the Premier League than United this season (33), no side has had fewer different goalscorers than the Blades (10, excluding own goals).

• Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni has been substituted off in 86% of his league appearances this season (25/29), the highest share of any player to play at least 20 games in Premier League history.

• Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie has been involved in eight goals in his past eight Premier League home games, scoring six and assisting twice. The only game in this run in which he has not registered a goal or assist was in the Blades’ 6-0 defeat by Arsenal last month.

Image source, Getty Images

Oddly, I used to like to play in goals during training when I was a player. I was OK, but at 5ft 6in (1.67m) tall it was never going to be my alternative position in the professional game. I knew I was not big enough or good enough for that specialist position.

I say this so that keepers do not get riled with me when I say that, 99.9% of them, are not good enough to be top-level outfield professionals. The problem is that they are continually asked to be just that now.

Burnley v Brighton underlined this perfectly. It is a fast growing list of keepers who are being closed down and then losing goals, simply because they are not good enough footballers. Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen joined Burnley's Arijanet Muric against Everton and Sheffield United’s Ivo Grbic against Liverpool, an error I mentioned just last week.

The reason why Verbruggen did not just come out and pick up the ball up in his box, is because he is being asked to think like an outfield player, but the gap between being not bad and being a top pro is an almighty chasm.

Muric then had a howler that an 11-year-old outfield player would be embarrassed by. With this second aberration in two weeks, Burnley’s chances of staying in the Premier League all but crashed and burned.

This is not a stinging rebuke to him or any goalkeeper. They are being asked to do a job most are not equipped for, and so goals will continue to be pointlessly lost and will probably get even more frequent.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter